& 


NO-,  1  9 


STiTY  OF 
^TST 

PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


THE  LIFE  SAVERS 

A  STORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 
LIFE-SAVING  SERVICE 


BY 


JAMES  OTIS 

AUTHOR    OF  "  AN    AMATEUR    FIREMAN,"  ETC. 


NEW  YORK 

E.  P.  DUTTON  &  COMPANY 
31  WEST  TWENTY-THIRD  STREET 


COPYRIGHT,  1899 

BY 
E.  P.  DUTTON   &  CO. 


TTbe  ftnlcherbocfcer  (KM,  *>evo  Jporfc 


STACK 
ANNEX 

f7  -7 

7 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER.  PACE. 

I.  INTRODUCTORY        .......  i 

II.  A  BOY  AND  A  DOG 9 

III.  BENNY'S  STORY   .......  23 

IV.  ON  PATROL 40 

V.  FROM  THE  "AMAZONIA"        .....  60 

VI.  ROUTINE  DUTY 80 

VII.  SAVING  LIFE .  98 

VIII.  FLUFF  A  HERO        .......  115 

IX.  OFFICIAL  PERMISSION      ......  134 

X.  THE  UNIFORM 155 

XI.  THE  STRANDED  STEAMER 172 

XII.  IN  THE  SURF 187 

XIII.  "NUMBER  EIGHT".        ......  204 

XIV.  THE  WRECKERS 222 

XV.  LIVELY  WORK         .......  239 

XVI.  CAST  ASHORE 259 

XVII.  A  LETTER 278 

XVIII.  A  CONSULTATION 298 

XIX.  THE  DECISION 313 

iii 


THE    LIFE    SAVERS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

INTRODUCTORY. 

The  development  of  the  American  Life-Saving 
Service  covers  nearly  a  century. 

".  .  .  The  initiatory  movement  was  the  organ- 
ization by  a  few  benevolent  persons  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Humane  Society  in  1786.  In  attempting  to 
alleviate  the  miseries  of  shipwreck  on  the  Massachu- 
setts coast,  small  huts  were  built;  and  in  1807  the 
first  life-boat  station  was  established  at  Cohasset. 
The  Society  depended  upon  voluntary  crews,  but  so 
much  was  accomplished  of  value  that  some  pecuni- 
ary aid  was  received,  as  time  wore  on,  from  both 
State  and  general  governments. 

"  The  magnificent  work  of  the  Coast  Survey, 
begun  in  earnest  in  1832,  absorbed  the  resources  of 
Congress  for  a  decade  and  a  half,  during  which 
period  nothing  was  attempted  in  the  way  of  life- 


2  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

saving  except  through  voluntary  societies.  A  few 
public  vessels  were,  indeed,  authorized  in  1837  to 
cruise  near  the  coast  for  the  assistance  of  shipping 
in  distress,  but  it  was  through  the  movement  in  aid 
of  commerce,  which  extended  to  the  lighthouse 
system. 

'  In  1847,  five  thousand  dollars  were  appropriated 
by  Congress  toward  furnishing  lighthouses  on  the 
Atlantic  with  the  facilities  for  aiding  shipwrecked 
mariners.  The  money,  after  remaining  in  the 
Treasury  two  years  unused,  was  permitted  to  be 
expended  by  the  Massachusetts  society  upon  Cape 
Cod. 

"  In  the  summer  of  1848,  the  Hon.  William  A. 
Newell,  then  a  member  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives from  New  Jersey,  incited  by  some  terrible 
shipwrecks  on  the  coast  of  that  State,  induced  Con- 
gress, through  his  eloquence,  to  appropriate  ten 
thousand  dollars  for  providing  surf-boats  and  other 
appliances  '  for  the  protection  of  life  and  property 
from  shipwreck  on  the  coast  between  Sandy  Hook 
and  Little  Egg  Harbor.'  During  the  next  session  a 
still  larger  appropriation  was  obtained.  Twenty- 
two  station-houses  were  erected  on  the  coasts  of 
New  Jersey  and  Long  Island,  and  although  no  per- 
sons were  paid  or  authorized  to  take  charge  of  them, 
and  they  were  manned  by  extemporized  crews,  their 
value  in  several  cases  of  shipwreck  was  so  great  that 


IN  TROD  UCTOR  Y.  3 

Congress  made  further  appropriations  from  year  to 
year,  and  stations  and  life-boats  gradually  multi- 
plied. 

'  Through  the  pressure  of  a  shocking  event  in 
1854 — the  loss  of  three  hundred  lives  off  the  New 
Jersey  coast — a  local  superintendent  was  employed, 
a  keeper  assigned  to  each  station,  and  bonded  cus- 
todians placed  in  charge  of  the  life-boats,  which  had 
been  repeatedly  stolen ;  but  the  absence  of  drilled 
and  disciplined  crews,  of  general  regulations,  and  of 
energetic  central  administration  rendered  the  record 
of  the  institution  unsatisfactory,  and  its  benefits 
checkered  by  the  saddest  failures. 

"  In  the  year  1871,  Sumner  I.  Kimball  succeeded 
to  the  head  of  the  Revenue  Marine  Bureau  of  the 
Treasury  Department,  under  the  charge  of  which 
were  the  life-saving  stations.  He  made  it  his  first 
business  to  ascertain  their  condition.  Captain  John 
Faunce  was  detailed  to  make  a  tour  of  inspection, 
and  was  accompanied  a  portion  of  the  way  by  Mr. 
Kimball  himself.  The  buildings  were  found  neg- 
lected and  dilapidated,  the  apparatus  rusty  or 
broken,  portable  articles  had  been  carried  off,  the 
salaried  keepers  were  often  living  at  a  distance  from 
their  posts,  some  of  them  too  old  for  service,  and 
others  incompetent,  and  the  volunteer  crews  were  in 
a  quarrelsome  temper  with  each  other  and  with  the 
coast  population. 


4  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

"  Then  commenced  that  vigorous  prosecution  of 
reform  which  has  crowned  the  humane  work  with 
unprecedented  success.  Making  the  most  of  slender 
appropriations,  and  in  the  face  of  perpetual  dis- 
couragements, this  one  man,  the  chief  of  a  bureau, 
pushed  on  by  philanthropic  impulses  and  guided  by 
unerring  judgment,  brought  a  complete  and  orderly 
system  into  effect.  It  was  not  the  work  of  a  day, 
nor  of  a  year.  It  required  patience,  sagacity,  and 
rare  powers  of  organization  and  government.  He 
knew  no  office  hours,  working  day  and  night  at 
what  many  were  pleased  to  consider  a  hopeless  task. 
In  his  brain  originated  the  idea  of  guarding  the 
entire  coasts  of  the  nation  through  the  planting  of  a 
chain  of  fortresses  to  be  garrisoned  by  disciplined 
conquerors  of  the  sea.  It  is  a  matter  of  public 
record,  and  generally  known  to  the  country,  that 
through  his  practical  devotion  to  the  cause  this  has 
been  so  nearly  accomplished. 

"  In  icorganizing  what  there  was  of  the  Service, 
he  prepared  a  code  of  regulations  for  its  absolute 
control.  The  duties  of  every  man  employed  were 
minutely  defined.  The  lazy,  the  careless,  and  the 
unworthy  were  dismissed,  and  men  chosen  to  fill 
their  places  with  sole  reference  to  integrity  and  pro- 
fessional fitness.  Politics  was  abolished.  That  is, 
experts  in  the  surf  were  regarded  as  of  more  conse- 
quence to  drowning  victims  than  voters  of  any  par- 


IN  TROD  UCTOR  Y.  5 

ticular  political  ticket.  The  station-houses  were 
repaired,  and  increased  in  numbers  as  fast  as  the 
means  afforded  by  Congress  would  allow ;  the  appli- 
ances for  life-saving  were  restored,  and  improved 
from  year  to  year  through  the  best  inventions  and 
discoveries  in  this  or  any  other  country,  and  a 
rigid  system  of  inspection  and  of  patrol  was  inaugu- 
rated. 

"  The  record  of  the  first  season  on  the  New  York 
and  New  Jersey  coasts,  where  the  new  system  first 
went  into  actual  operation,  showed  that  every  person 
imperiled  by  shipwreck  was  saved.  Consequently 
a  commission,  consisting  of  Mr.  Kimball,  Captain 
Faunce,  and  Captain  J.  H.  Merryman,  of  the  Rev- 
enue Marine,  surveyed  in  1873,  by  order  of  Congress, 
the  vast  and  varied  coasts  of  the  oceans  and  lakes, 
investigating  personally  the  characteristics  of  the 
dangerous  localities,  and  holding  consultations  with 
underwriters,  shipowners,  captains  of  vessels,  and 
veteran  surfmen.  The  report  of  this  commission 
placed  before  Congress  a  minute  account  of  the 
disasters  to  vessels  on  every  mile  of  coast  for  the 
previous  ten  years;  a  bill  based  upon  it,  prepared 
by  Mr.  Kimball,  became  a  law  June  20,  1874.  It 
provided  for  the  extension  of  the  field  of  this  great 
national  work  of  humanity;  for  the  bestowal  of 
medals  of  honor  upon  persons  risking  their  lives  to 
save  others;  and  empowered  the  collection  and  tab- 


6  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

ulation  of  statistics  of  disaster  to  shipping,  which, 
by  reference  to  the  periodicity  of  marine  casualties, 
aided  in  determining  the  points  most  needing  pro- 
tection, and  in  various  other  ways  benefited  both 
government  and  maritime  interests.  .  .  . 

'  The  life-saving  stations  on  the  Atlantic  sea- 
board are  now  within  an  average  distance  of  five 
miles  of  each  other,  each  crew  consisting  of  a  keeper 
and  six  surfmen.  At  sunset  two  men  start  from 
each  station,  one  going  to  the  right  and  the  other 
to  the  left.  They  are  equipped  with  lanterns  and 
Coston  signals,  and  each  pursues  his  solitary  and 
perilous  way  through  the  soft  sand,  in  spite  of  flood- 
ing tides,  bewildering  snowfalls,  overwhelming 
winds,  and  bitter  cold.  .  .  . 

'  The  night  is  divided  into  four  watches.  The 
keeper  is  required  to  register  in  his  log-book  the 
name  of  each  patrolman,  his  hours  on  patrol,  .  .  . 
the  direction  and  force  of  the  wind  at  sunrise,  noon, 
sunset,  and  midnight,  together  with  the  events  of 
each  day.  This  record  is  sent  to  the  chief  of  the 
Service  at  Washington  at  the  end  of  every  week.  .  .  . 

'  The  stations  consist  of  three  classes,  severally 
denominated  life-saving  stations,  life-boat  stations, 
and  houses  of  refuge.  Each  of  the  twelve  districts 
is  provided  with  a  local  superintendent,  who  must 
be  a  resident  of  the  district  and  familiarly  acquainted 
with  its  inhabitants. 


IN  TROD  UC  TOR  Y.  7 

'  The  stations  are  visited  frequently,  and  the  men 
examined  in  the  exercises  of  the  apparatus  drill, 
and  obliged  to  give  verbal  reasons  for  every  step  in 
their  operations.  They  are  trained  with  their  life- 
boats in  the  surf,  in  the  use  of  the  life-dress,  in 
saving  drowning  persons  by  swimming  to  their  relief, 
in  the  methods  of  restoring  the  partially  drowned, 
and  in  signalling.  When  a  wreck  is  attended  with 
loss  of  life,  a  rigid  examination  follows  to  see  if  any 
of  the  men  have  been  guilty  of  misconduct  or  neglect 
of  duty.  The  keepers  are  empowered  to  protect  the 
interests  of  the  government  from  smuggling,  and 
they  guard  all  property  that  comes  ashore  from  a 
wreck  until  its  rightful  owners  appear.  They  are 
charged  with  the  care  and  order  of  the  stations,  and 
the  boats  and  apparatus;  and  they  must  keep  ac- 
curate accounts  of  all  receipts  and  expenditures, 
journalize  all  transactions,  and  maintain  all  necessary 
correspondence  with  superior  officers.  Thus  it  ap- 
pears they  must  possess  a  certain  amount  of  edu- 
cation and  high  integrity,  as  well  as  surfmanship, 
intrepidity,  and  commanding  qualities.  .  .  ." — 
Harper  s  Magazine,  February,  1882. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1894  the  total  number  of 
stations  in  the  Life-Saving  Establishment  was  247. 
Of  this  number,  182  were  situated  on  the  Atlantic 
and  Gulf  coasts,  51  on  the  coasts  of  the  Great  Lakes, 


8  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

13  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  and  I  at  the  Falls  of  the 
Ohio,  Louisville,  Kentucky.  Their  distribution  by 
life-saving  districts  was  as  follows: 

First  District  (coasts  of  Maine  and  New  Hamp- 
shire)    12 

Second  District  (coast  of  Massachusetts) 24 

Third  District  (coasts  of  Rhode  Island  and  Long 

Island) 39 

Fourth  District  (coast  of  New  Jersey) 41 

Fifth   District  (coast  from  Cape  Heniopen  to 

Cape  Charles) 17 

Sixth  District  (coast  from  Cape  Henry  to  Cape 

Fear  River) 29 

Seventh    District    (coasts   of   South    Carolina, 

Georgia,  and  Eastern  Florida) 12 

Eighth  District  (Gulf  Coast) 8 

Ninth  District  (Lakes  Erie  and  Ontario,  includ- 
ing Louisville  Station) 12 

Tenth  District  (Lakes  Huron  and  Superior) ....  15 

Eleventh  District  (Lake  Michigan) 25 

Twelfth  District  (Pacific  Coast) 13 


Total 247 

— Report  of  the  United  States  Life-Saving  Service. 


THE  LIGHTHOUSE  NEAR  THE  STATION.  Page  8 


CHAPTER  II. 

A  BOY  AND   A  DOG. 

It  was  on  the  afternoon  of  December  236,  in  the 
year  1893,  that  one  of  the  life-saving  crews  in  the 
First  District  was  completely  prepared  for  work, 
although  neither  vessel  nor  wreck  was  to  be  seen. 

The  wind  was  from  the  northeast  and  the  driving 
sleet  and  snow  shut  out  from  view  all  that  portion 
of  the  rocky  coast  save  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
the  station.  During  the  afternoon  the  gale  had 
increased  in  force  until  it  was  what  a  mariner  would 
call  "  stiff  "  ;  the  sea  had  risen  with  equal  pace,  and 
every  indication  confirmed  the  prediction  made 

9 


JO  THE  LIFE  SAVERS. 

among  the  surfmen,  that  an  ugly  winter  storm  was 
at  hand. 

At  such  a  time  the  gallant  life-saving  crews  along 
the  coast  are  ever  ready  for,  and  expecting,  the 
signal  which  calls  them  to  their  perilous  work;  but 
not  ordinarily  do  they  stand  by  their  apparatus  as 
on  this  afternoon,  for,  fortunately,  many  a  winter 
tempest  fails  in  its  harvest  of  death. 

At  noon  on  this  day  information  was  sent  to  the 
station  that  the  patrol  several  miles  down  the  coast 
had  sighted  a  large  ship  so  nearly  inshore  that, 
under  the  adverse  condition  of  wind  and  sea,  she 
could  not  tack,  and  there  was  not  sufficient  room  to 
wear.  Unless  her  course  was  speedily  changed,  so 
ran  the  information  received, — and  in  the  teeth  of 
the  fierce  northeast  tempest  and  the  shoreward 
heaving  of  the  tremendous  sea  that  seemed  impos- 
sible,— it  was  certain  she  must  strike  somewhere 
nearabout  this  particular  station. 

From  the  moment  such  information  was  received 
the  patrol  on  the  beach  had  been  doubled,  and, 
knowing  full  well  how  difficult  it  would  be,  under  all 
the  circumstances,  for  any  craft  to  escape  the  perils 
to  which  it  was  said  this  ship  was  exposed,  the  crew 
were  keenly  on  the  alert  for  the  first  token  of  wreck. 

At  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening  no  further  news 
of  the  vessel  had  been  obtained ;  therefore  the  men 
whose  mission  it  is  to  save  life  understood  that  the 


A    SOY  AND  A    DOG.  .     II 

ship  was  still  fighting  against  the  gale,  and  knew  full 
well  every  moment  gained  by  her  increased  the 
chances  of  escape,  even  though  it  had  seemed  im- 
possible she  could  weather  the  point. 

Half  an  hour  later  Surfman  Samuel  Hardy,  breath- 
less and  panting,  literally  burst  his  way  into  the 
station,  as  he  cried  : 

"  Joe  Gushing  has  just  lighted  his  signal!  " 

All  members  of  life-saving  crews  carry,  while 
patrolling  the  shore  on  the  lookout  for  signs  of 
danger  to  others,  what  is  known  as  a  "  Coston  sig- 
nal," an  ingenious  contrivance  which  can  be  lighted 
by  concussion,  and,  therefore,  may  be  displayed 
regardless  of  the  weather. 

No  further  information  was  necessary ;  the  crew 
knew  full  well  that  the  ship  previously  reported  as 
being  in  peril,  and  which  had  made  such  a  gallant 
fight  against  the  elements,  had  at  last  been  con- 
quered. 

Before  Sam  Hardy  could  take  his  station  at  the 
beach-wagon,  in  which  is  transported  all  the  appa- 
ratus necessary  for  the  work  of  the  crew  when  a 
wreck  is  close  inshore,  Joseph  Gushing  arrived: 

She  has  struck  just  off  the  west  spit!  " 
'  Then  it  is  the  ship  ?  "  Keeper  Thomas  Downey 
asked ;  and  before  the  question  could  be  answered 
he  gave  in  rapid  succession  the  orders  necessary  for 
beginning  the  work  of  rescue. 


12  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

"  Open  boat-room  doors!  " 

"  Man  the  beach-wagon!  " 

"  Forward!  " 

These  commands  were  superfluous,  for  the  crew, 
after  long  experience  at  such  work,  both  during 
tempests  when  human  life  was  to  be  saved,  and  at 
drill  in  fair  weather,  moved  as  if  by  instinct. 

The  last  word  had  no  more  than  been  spoken 
before  the  heavy  wagon  rolled  down  the  platform  to 
the  sand,  every  man  fully  aware  of  the  fact  that  now 
had  come  the  time  when  the  span  of  many  lives  might 
be  measured  by  seconds  if  they  faltered  or  delayed. 

From  the  official  report  is  taken  the  following  ac- 
count of  the  disaster: 

"  It  appears  that  the  ship  had  been  laboring 
heavily,  the  wind  constantly  heading  her  off  after 
nightfall,  and  the  master,  although  he  kept  up  a  stout 
heart,  must  have  been  well  aware  that  he  was  con- 
stantly losing  more  and  more  of  the  narrow  margin 
that  lay  between  possible  safety  and  inevitable  de- 
struction. Whatever  misgivings  the  crew  may  have 
experienced,  the  survivor  states  that  the  first  in- 
timation they  had  of  their  immediate  proximity  to 
the  shore  was  when  they  saw  the  breakers,  and  the 
captain,  who  was  below  at  the  moment,  rushed  on 
deck  with  the  ominous  outcry,  '  She  has  struck!  ' 

'  The  boats  were  still  on  the  bridge  where  they 


A   BOY  AND  A    DOG.  13 

had  been  originally  stowed  for  the  voyage,  their 
covers  and  lashings  intact  and  the  tackles  unhooked, 
but  Captain  Clark  instantly  gave  the  order  to  clear 
them  away,  and,  together  with  the  men,  set  about 
the  work.  The  ship  lay  with  her  starboard  side  to 
the  waves,  which  the  next  instant  lifted  her  farther 
shoreward  and  then  fell  crashing  on  board. 

'  The  most  of  the  sailors  fled  to  the  mizzen 
shrouds,  but  a*  few,  more  daring  or  desperate  than 
the  rest,  still  struggled  to  clear  the  boats. 

"  Another  run  of  towering  breakers  was  now  about 
to  leap  on  board,  and  the  brave  men  were  compelled 
to  give  over  and  quickly  join  their  shipmates  in  the 
rigging.  At  this  moment  the  red  glare  of  the  patrol- 
man's signal  gleamed  through  the  darkness,  and  a 
cheer  broke  forth  from  the  shipwrecked  men. 

'  Up  to  this  time  the  master  had  found  no  diffi- 
culty in  controlling  the  movements  of  the  crew,  who 
appear  to  have  been  able  and  obedient  sailors;  but 
now  there  was  no  longer  any  occasion  for  the  exer- 
cise of  authority,  and  in  the  dreadful  situation  it 
behooved  every  man  to  look  out  for  himself. 

"  Within  ten  minutes  from  the  flash  of  the  signal 
the  great  iron  hull  parted  amidships,  and  the  main- 
mast toppled  over,  carrying  with  it  the  mizzen- 
topmast.  The  entire  ship's  company,  except  the 
captain,  were  at  this  time  in  the  mizzen  rigging, 
where  they  were  able  to  hold  on  only  a  few  minutes, 


14  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

when  all  were  washed  overboard  together.  The 
captain,  when  last  seen  was  standing  on  the  ladder 
at  the  quarter-deck,  supporting  himself  with  a  hand 
on  each  rail. 

'  The  beach  apparatus  was  on  the  ground  and 
ready  for  service ;  but  the  ship  was  only  now  and 
then  faintly  visible,  and  there  was  little  reason  to 
believe  the  crew's  efforts  would  be  of  any  avail. 

However,  the  gun  was  aimed  as  well  as  possible 
in  the  direction  of  the  wreck,  which  was  discernible 
only  as  a  black  shadow  that  seemed  a  little  darker 
than  the  surrounding  gloom,  and  the  shot  was  fired. 

'  That  the  line  fell  across  the  hulk  there  is  no 
reason  to  doubt.  That  it  lodged  with  considerable 
firmness  somewhere  was  conclusive  to  the  keeper  in 
charge,  for  it  resisted  the  slight  strain  put  upon  it 
to  determine  whether  it  was  fast,  but  no  pull  or 
manipulation  on  the  offshore  end  could  be  detected, 
and  after  waiting  in  vain  some  considerable  time  for 
that  always  welcome  sign  that  the  line  has  been 
found  by  the  shipwrecked,  the  life-savers  hauled  hard 
on  it  until  it  finally  parted  under  the  heavy  strain. 

'  The  keeper  was  now  satisfied  that  there  was  no 
living  being  on  board  the  wreck.  Nothing  could 
be  accomplished  by  additional  efforts  to  effect  com- 
munication by  means  of  the  gun,  and  the  fury  of 
the  surf  was  so  overwhelming  that  none  of  the  men, 
familiar  as  they  were  with  the  conditions,  of  long 


A    BOY  AND  A    DOG.  15 

experience  on  the  coast,  and  brave  as  they  had  often 
proved  themselves,  even  so  much  as  entertained  the 
thought  of  launching  the  boat.  It  was  out  of 
question,  absolutely  and  beyond  all  possibility  of 
cavil.  The  slatting  of  the  distant  sails  is  described  as 
sounding  like  peals  of  thunder,  and  the  crashing  of 
blocks  and  chains  as  they  were  flung  back  and  forth 
against  the  wire  rigging  and  iron  foremast,  sent  out 
volumes  of  blazing  sparks  that  seemed  like  signals 
of  distress. 

"It  is  the  custom  on  occasions  of  this  kind  to 
build  a  fire  on  the  shore  as  a  beacon  of  hope  to  en- 
courage the  shipwrecked,  and  although  there  was 
believed  to  be  nobody  on  the  vessel,  this  would 
nevertheless  have  been  done,  if  possible.  But  the 
gale  blew  with  such  force  that  a  fire  could  not  be 
maintained,  and,  indeed,  so  terrific  was  its  fury  that 
the  polished  glass  lantern  on  the  beach  apparatus 
cart  was  converted  into  a  good  specimen  of  ground 
glass  by  the  incessant  beating  of  the  driven  sand 
upon  its  surface. 

Now  and  then  a  red  signal  was  discharged  to 
attract  the  attention  of  any  poor  fellow  who  might 
be  washed  ashore  alive,  and  a  faithful  search-patrol 
was  maintained  along  the  beach  by  the  entire  crew. " 

That  portion  of  the  shore  upon  which  the  wind 
and  the  current  would  most  likely  cast  up  fragments 


1 6  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

of  the  wreck  was  thickly  dotted  with  every  available 
lantern  from  the  station  in  the  hope  that  these  tiny 
rays  of  light  might  serve  as  beacons  for  some  sailor 
whose  life  had  not  been  crushed  out  of  him  by  the 
fury  of  the  surf,  and  with  eager  eyes  the  men  peered 
into  the  foaming  swirl  of  waters. 

Five  minutes  passed,  and  no  sign  either  of  life  or 
death  came  from  the  wreck. 

"  There  is  little  chance  the  breath  will  yet  remain 
in  any  who  comes  ashore  now,"  Keeper  Downey 
said  to  Joe  Gushing,  and  the  latter  replied  only  with 
a  mournful  shake  of  the  head,  for  it  did  not  seem 
possible  any  living  thing  could  come  through  that 
mighty  surge. 

The  words  had  no  more  than  been  spoken,  how- 
ever, when  far  away  in  the  distance  could  be  heard 
the  cry  of  Sam  Hardy,  and  without  being  able  to 
distinguish  the  words,  those  who  heard  knew  from 
the  tone  that  he  had  sighted  life  in  some  form. 

All  the  crew  ran  that  way  in  hot  haste,  the  keeper 
leading,  and  arriving  at  the  spot  just  as  Hardy,  all 
regardless  of  his  own  life,  had  plunged  waist-deep 
into  the  surf  that  he  might  seize  upon  a  short  spar 
to  which  was  lashed  a  dark  mass. 

None  save  those  who  had  been  trained  to  the  duty 
of  saving  life  under  such  circumstances  would  have 
recognized  the  possibility  that  a  human  being  might 
be  concealed  beneath  what  appeared  to  be  only 


A    BOY  AND  A    DOG.  I/ 

valueless  wreckage;  but  the  crew  knew  by  long  ex- 
perience that  amid  this  particular  flotsam  would  be 
found,  either  alive  or  dead,  some  one  from  the  ill- 
fated  ship. 

As  Hardy  had  dashed  into  the  surf  so  did  the 
others,  until  a  living  chain  had  been  formed,  and  by 
this  means  the  spar  was  pulled  on  shore  despite  the 
heavy  undertow  which  strove  with  giant  force  against 
the  efforts  of  the  life-savers. 

Once  the  wreckage  was  beyond  reach  of  the  tower- 
ing, roaring  waves,  few  seconds  were  spent  in  learn- 
ing whether  the  men  had,  by  risking  their  own  lives, 
saved  a  human  being  from  death,  or  if  it  was  but 
a  corpse  which  had  been  wrested  from  the  angry 
waters. 

From  amid  wrappings  of  what  appeared  to  be  the 
fragment  of  a  sail  was  seen  the  head  of  a  child ;  the 
face  was  pallid  as  if  death  had  already  set  its  seal 
upon  it,  and  not  so  much  as  a  tremor  of  the  lips 
could  be  distinguished  in  the  faint  light  cast  by  the 
lanterns. 

The  cold  was  searching;  the  garments  of  the  crew 
were  already  stiffening  with  ice,  and  if  life  was  to  be 
prevented  from  leaving  that  small  body,  all  efforts 
must  be  made  within  the  shelter  of  the  station. 

Acting  upon  the  keeper's  orders,  the  little  form 
was  released  from  the  bonds  of  rope  which  held  it 
fast  to  the  spar,  and  with  all  speed  carried  to  the 


1 8  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

building  where  could  be  found  everything  needful 
for  the  coming  struggle  against  death. 

It  was  a  small  boy,  apparently  ten  or  twelve  years 
of  age,  who  had  been  rescued,  and  as  the  kindly 
men  with  tender  care  removed  the  icy  clothing,  they 
were  startled,  almost  alarmed  for  the  moment,  by 
seeing  a  very  small  dog,  his  long  white  hair  soaked 
with  water,  leap  from  beneath  the  lad's  tightly 
buttoned  pea-jacket. 

The  animal  shook  itself,  looked  quickly  around 
with  a  low  whine,  and,  recognizing  the  boy,  began 
eagerly  licking  his  face,  as  if  understanding  that  im- 
mediate aid  of  some  kind  was  necessary. 

The  members  of  the  crew  had  lost  no  time  in 
taking  such  measures  as  were  needful,  and  although 
the  small  dog  growled  furiously  when  they  rolled 
the  boy  face  downward,  having  previously  laid  him 
upon  the  floor  of  the  station,  the  efforts  at  resuscita- 
tion were 'both  skilful  and  vigorous. 

Before  the  work  had  fairly  begun  the  lad  showed 
signs  of  life  by  opening  his  eyes,  and  his  first  glance 
fell  upon  the  dog,  which  was  standing  near  by,  wag- 
ging its  tail  furiously  as  if  to  attract  attention. 

"  I  reckon  he  's  coming  around  all  right,"  Keeper 
Downey  said  in  a  tone  of  satisfaction,  and  then, 
noting  the  troubled  look  which  suddenly  came  over 
the  little  fellow's  face,  he  asked  quickly,  "  What  is 
it,  my  son  ?  What  are  you  wanting  ?  " 


A   BOY  AND  A   DOG.  19 

"  Is  Mrs.  Clark  here  ?  " 

"  Who  is  she  ?" 

"  The  captain's  wife." 

"  She  has  n't  come  ashore  yet ;  but  you  're  not  to 
trouble  your  head  about  anything  except  getting  the 
best  of  the  salt  water  you  've  taken  aboard." 

"  You  must  be  careful  of  Fluff  until  she  gets 
here." 

'  Meaning  this  little  bundle  of  hair  ?  "  the  keeper 
asked  with  a  laugh,  laying  his  hand  on  the  dog's  head. 

"  Yes,  sir;  she  thinks  very  much  of  him,  an'  I 
promised  to  keep  him  close  in  my  arms  if  it  so  hap- 
pened that  we  had  to  come  ashore  lashed  to  the 
spar." 

"  I  reckon  you  could  n't  have  done  different,  tied 
together  as  you  two  were,"  Surf  man  Dick  Sawyer 
said  with  a  laugh,  and  the  keeper  added  kindly : 

'  There  's  no  need  to  fret  about  the  dog;  he  shall 
have  the  run  of  the  station,  and  there  's  nothing  to 
harm  him  while  old  Maje  is  in  the  boat-house — Maje 
is  our  dog,"  Downey  added  as  he  read  the  question 
in  the  boy's  eyes.  "  He  's  large  enough  to  swallow 
two  or  three  like  this  little  one  here;  but  I  '11  an- 
swer for  it  your  Fluff  is  n't  in  any  danger,  and  to 
set  your  mind  at  rest  he  shall  stay  close  by  you  till 
morning.  We  '11  put  you  to  bed  now,  I  reckon; 
there  's  other  work  for  us  outside." 

"  I  can  take  care  of  myself,   sir,"  the  lad  said 


2O  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

bravely,  as  he  attempted  to  struggle  to  his  feet,  the 
dog  meanwhile  barking  furiously  as  if  cautioning  his 
young  master  against  being  too  venturesome. 

"  I  thought  you  could  n't  do  it,"  Keeper  Dow- 
ney said,  catching  the  boy  in  time  to  prevent  a  fall, 
and  without  further  parley  he  carried  him  to  the 
sleeping-room  above. 

When  the  rescued  lad  was  tucked  snugly  between 
a  generous  supply  of  blankets,  the  dog  curled  him- 
self up  on  the  outside  of  the  bed  with  his  nose  close 
beside  the  boy's  cheek,  and  Keeper  Downey  mut- 
tered to  himself  as  he  descended  the  stairs : 

'If  all  the  ship's  crew  had  been  put  away  a? 
safe  and  comfortable  as  those  two,  we  should  have 
done  a  night's  work  of  which  we  might  well  be 
proud." 

Then  out  into  the  howling,  wintry  blast  went  the 
men  who  had  brought  the  lad  and  the  dog  to  the 
station,  and  during  the  remainder  of  that  terrible 
night  every  man  did  patrol  duty,  pacing  to  and  fro 
along  the  rocky  shore,  or  keeping  faithful  watch 
over  the  narrow  strip  of  beach,  in  the  faint  hope 
that  there  might  be  other  survivors,  although  there 
was  little  chance  that  such  could  be  the  case. 

To  continue  the  official  report:  "  Only  remnants 
of  spars  and  cargo,  however,  were  cast  at  their  feet, 
and  when  daylight  finally  dawned  all  eyes  were  in- 
tently turned  toward  the  wreck  with  a  vague  hope 


A    BOY  AND  A    DOG.  21 

that,  by  some  altogether  improbable  possibility, 
there  might  be  some  signs  of  living  men  on  board. 
But  there  were  none. 

'  The  forward  and  after  parts  of  the  dismembered 
hull  were  seen  to  be  from  thirty  to  forty  yards  apart, 
lying  at  nearly  a  right  angle  with  each  other,  the 
former  head  on,  and  the  latter,  on  which  no  masts 
appeared,  thrown  on  its  beam  ends,  inclined  toward 
the  shore. 

"  The  foremast  and  foretopmast,  bowsprit  and  jib- 
boom,  with  most  of  the  fore  rigging,  were  still  in 
place,  and  the  lower  yard  was  crossed  amid  a  confu- 
sion of  tattered  sails  and  tangled  ropes.  The  waves 
ran  high  up  the  mast,  breaking  almost  into  the  fore- 
top,  and  shreds  and  fragments  of  the  cargo  of  jute 
wrapped  themselves  like  ragged  garments  around 
the  shrouds  and  stays. 

"  A  dead  body  was  discovered  entangled  in  the 
rigging  on  the  after  part  of  the  wreck ;  but  the  keeper 
did  not  deem  it  necessary  to  make  an. attempt  to  go 
out  with  a  boat  while  the  surf  was  still  extremely 
dangerous,  therefore  this  mournful  duty  was  post- 
poned until  the  following  day." 

There  was  nothing  to  be  learned  by  remaining 
where  they  were  exposed  to  the  full  fury  of  the 
gale,  which  had  not  abated,  and  the  weary  crew, 
saddened  because  they  had  not  been  permitted  to 
save  more  lives,  returned  to  the  station,  each  man's 


22  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

garments  so  thickly  encrusted  with  ice  that   only 
limited  movement  was  possible. 

A  large  ship  had  foundered  hardly  more  than  half 
a  pistol-shot  distant  from  the  building,  and  of  all  on 
board  only  a  small  boy  and  a  tiny  dog  had  been 
rescued  from  the  merciless  waves. 

'  We  '11  wait  till  the  lad  wakens,  and  then  most 
likely  he  can  give  us  a  smattering  of  the  details, 
although  I  don't  allow  he  knows  very  much  regarding 
the  disaster,  for  he  must  have  been  lashed  to  that 
spar  either  just  before,  or  immediately  after,  the 
ship  struck,"  Keeper  Downey  said  as  he  sought  to 
refresh  himself  with  the  contents  of  a  steaming  bowl 
of  coffee. 


CHAPTER  III. 
BENNY'S  STORY. 

When,  at  a  late  hour  next  morning,  the  boy  and 
the  dog  came  down-stairs,  the  former  appearing  be- 
wildered, and  the  latter  hanging  his  tail  as  if  doubt- 
ful of  the  reception  he  might  meet  with,  only 
Keeper  Downey  and  Surfman  Sam  Hardy  were  to 
be  seen. 

The  other  members  of  the  crew  were  engaged  out- 
side in  the  effort  to  save  such  wreckage  as  the  yet 
angry  waters  rolled  in  toward  the  shore. 

A  bright-looking  little  fellow  was  this  survivor  of 
the  terrible  disaster,  although  not  seen  at  his  best 
while  clad  only  in  his  undergarments,  and  shivering 
in  the  frosty  air  despite  the  volumes  of  heat  sent 
out  by  the  glowing  stove.  The  mercury  in  the 
thermometer  had  fallen  below  the  zero  mark,  and 
the  wind  found  every  crevice  and  crack  in  the  build- 
ing, situated  as  it  was  on  the  open  shore  where 
nothing  in  the  way  of  a  shelter  broke  the  force  of 
the  northeast  gales. 

23 


24  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

'  Well,  lad,  you  're  looking  bright  this  morning," 
the  keeper  cried  in  a  cheery  tone.       '  Hungry  ?  " 

"  I  can  take  my  share  of  breakfast  when  it  's 
ready,  and  I  guess  Fluff  won't  turn  up  his  nose  at 
warm  coffee." 

"  A  dog  drinking  coffee!  "  Sam  Hardy  cried,  with 
a  laugh  that  had  in  it  a  note  of  the  tempest. 

'  Yes,  sir;  Mrs.  Clark  always  gave  him  a  little  out 
of  her  own  cup.      Has  she  come  ashore  yet  ?  " 

No,  lad,"  the  keeper  replied  gravely.  '  None 
save  you  and  the  dog  lived  through  last  night." 

They  can't  be  dead!  "  the  boy  cried  in  alarm, 
and  as  the  full  meaning  of  the  words  dawned  upon 
him,  the  tears  came.  "  Surely  some  of  the  men 
would  have  looked  out  for  Mrs.  Clark!  She  was 
coming  ashore  the  same  way  I  did." 

"  Had  they  lashed  her  to  a  spar  before  you  were 
set  adrift  ?  " 

"  The  captain  had  everything  ready:  but  I  was 
tied  on  first,  'cause  she  wanted  to  be  certain  Fluff 
would  be  tucked  inside  my  coat  properly.  Surely 
she  '11  come  soon  ?  " 

"  You  may  as  well  know  the  truth  at  once,  lad; 
I  'm  not  a  man  who  believes  in  keeping  back  bad 
tidings,  because  they  must  be  told  at  some  time. 
Even  if  Mrs.  Clark  was  set  adrift  on  a  spar,  she 
could  n't  have  lived  through  the  night.  You  are 
the  only  survivor  of  the  wreck." 


BENNY'S  STORY.  2$ 

"  Where  is  the  ship  ?  " 

'  The  waves  have  knocked  her  to  pieces  long  be- 
fore this,  and  our  crew  are  out  looking  after  the 
wreckage  as  it  comes  ashore." 

While  one  might  have  counted  ten  the  lad  stood 
looking  at  the  keeper  searchingly,  and  then,  gather- 
ing the  dog  in  his  arms,  he  gave  vent  to  the  grief 
that  had  so  suddenly  come  into  his  heart. 

'  We  '11  leave  him  alone  for  a  spell,  Sam,"  the 
keeper  whispered.  "  It  '11  do  him  good  to  have  a 
good  cry,  and  seeing  's  we  've  got  little  chance  of 
sending  in  a  report  till  after  the  storm  clears  up, 
there  's  no  sense  in  bothering  him  with  questions." 

Then  the  two  kind-hearted  men  tiptoed  softly 
out  of  the  station,  lest  the  sound  of  their  footsteps 
might  add  to  the  grief  in  the  boy's  heart,  and  the 
dog,  pricking  up  his  ears  as  if  understanding  every 
word  spoken,  apparently  listened  to  the  first  out- 
pouring of  sorrow  and  utter  desolation. 

It  can't  be  possible,  Fluffy,  that  every  one  has 
been  drowned!  It  could  n't  be,  God  would  take 
Captain  Clark  and  his  wife,  with  all  the  crew,  leav- 
ing only  you  an'  me  here!  Why,  Fluff!  If  the 
man  told  us  the  truth,  what  '11  become  of  us  ? 
We  're  alone  in  the  world,  do  you  understand  that  ? 
Nobody  who  '11  help  us  anywhere!  What  '11  be- 
come of  you,  my  poor  little  man,  and  she  loved  you 
so  dearly!  " 


26  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

As  if  in  reply  the  dog  licked  the  boy's  face,  and 
this  evidence  of  affection  appeared  but  to  render 
more  heavy  the  grief,  for,  throwing  himself  upon 
the  floor,  holding  his  dumb  companion  yet  more 
closely,  the  poor  lad  gave  way  to  the  sorrow  which 
had  come  with  such  cruel  suddenness  upon  him. 

He  was  yet  in  this  position  when  the  keeper  and 
two  of  the  crew  entered  the  building  an  hour 
later. 

In  the  boat-house,  covered  with  flags,  were  the 
bodies  of  the  captain  and  his  wife,  and  near  by  lay 
three  of  the  crew,  all  in  the  awful  silence  and  still- 
ness of  death. 

Keeper  Downey  laid  his  hand  on  the  boy's  shoul- 
der to  attract  his  attention,  and  the  dog,  mistaking 
this  friendly  touch  for  an  attack,  sprang  up,  barking 
furiously,  until  it  seemed  as  if  the  volume  of  sound 
must  shatter  the  tiny  body. 

Sam  Hardy  took  it  upon  himself  to  make  friends 
with  the  little  animal,  and  since  the  keeper  no 
longer  attempted  to  touch  the  sorrowing  lad,  Fluff 
ceased  his  shrill  yelps. 

"  Listen  to  me,  lad,"  the  keeper  said,  throwing  a 
coat  over  the  half-clad  form.  "  It  's  cruel  sorrow 
that  has  come  upon  you ;  but  remember  that  there 
are  others  in  this  world  who  have  been  as  cruelly 
afflicted, — that  you  are  not  alone  in  your  grief. 
Somewhere  are  wives  and  children  waiting  for  the 


BENNY'S  STORY,  2J 

return  of  the  poor  fellows  who  went  down  with  the 
ship,  and  you  must  not  be  selfish  in  your  sorrow. " 

The  boy  looked  up  with  swollen  eyes,  inquiringly. 
Yes,  my  boy,  you  are  selfish  to  give  way  to  all 
that  's  in  your  heart  when  it  is  possible  you  can  be 
of  service  to  others." 

What  do  you  mean,  sir  ?  " 

"  Sad  as  the  news  will  be  to  many,  it  is  necessary 
they  should  learn  of  what  happened  last  night,  and 
you  are  the  only  one  who  can  tell  the  story.  I  must 
make  a  report  on  the  wreck,  and  am  looking  to  you 
for  the  information.  There  is  yet  something  to  be 
done — the  last  in  this  world — by  friends  and  relatives 
for  such  of  the  bodies  as  come  ashore,  and  if  you 
give  way  to  selfish  sorrow,  the  word  cannot  be  sent 
out  from  here." 

The  lad  was  on  his  feet  in  an  instant,  and,  chok- 
ing back  the  sobs  as  best  he  might,  while  the  dog 
nestled  contentedly  in  his  arms,  he  asked : 

"  Tell  me  what  you  want,  sir." 

"  First,  the  name  of  the  ship." 

"  She  was  the  Amazonia,  from  Calcutta  to  Boston, 
David  Clark,  master." 

"  Do  you  know  how  much  of  a  crew  she  carried  ?  " 

"  Twenty-five,  all  told." 

"  Any  other  women  except  the  captain's  wife  ?  " 

"No,  sir." 

"  What  is  your  name  ?  " 


28  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

Benjamin  H.  Foster;  but  Mrs.  Clark  always 
called  me  '  Benny,'  "  the  lad  replied,  and  at  mention 
of  the  woman's  name  his  grief  overwhelmed  him 
once  more. 

The  eyes  of  the  keeper  and  his  comrades  were  not 
free  from  a  certain  moisture,  and  more  than  one 
furtively  passed  the  sleeve  of  his  rough  coat  across 
his  face  as  all  waited  for  the  lad  to  recover  his  com- 
posure in  a  measure. 

I  '11  try  not  to  cry  again,  sir,"  Benny  said  pit- 
eously,  after  struggling  a  moment  to  force  back  the 
tears. 

"  It  is  well  you  should  grieve,  lad;  don't  think  I 
blamed  you  for  doing  what  is  only  natural.  When 
it  is  possible  you  shall  tell  all  you  know  about  the 
ship  and  her  voyage,  giving  the  names  of  those 
members  of  the  crew  that  come  to  mind." 

Two  hours  or  more  passed  before  Benny  had 
concluded  the  sad  story,  and  then  Keeper  Downey 
was  in  possession  of  such  facts  as  were  necessary  for 
the  proper  making  up  of  his  official  report. 

According  to  Benny's  tale  the  Amazonia  had 
sailed  from  Calcutta,  India,  on  the  i$th  of  Febru- 
ary, and,  because  of  previous  disasters,  the  voyage 
had  consumed  almost  ten  months,  during  which 
time  the  ship  had  covered  a  distance  equal  to  one 
half  the  circuit  of  the  globe. 

She  was  loaded  with  ten  thousand  bales  of  jute; 


BENNY'S  STORY.  2Q 

while  crossing  the  Indian  Ocean  she  had  run  into  a 
cyclone  and  been  dismasted.  Under  jury-rig  the 
ship  was  worked  to  Port  Louis,  Mauritius,  where, 
after  being  unloaded,  she  was  thoroughly  overhauled 
and  repaired.  Not  until  the  middle  of  September 
was  the  voyage  resumed,  and  nothing  of  note  oc- 
curred until  the  vicinity  of  the  Bermudas  was 
reached,  when  frequent  squalls  set  in,  following  the 
vessel  until  she  made  the  coast  of  the  United  States. 

Captain  Clark  had  not  been  able  to  take  an  ob- 
servation for  several  days,  and,  therefore,  was  forced 
to  rely  upon  what  mariners  term  "  dead  reckoning." 
Two  days  prior  to  the  wreck  he  spoke  a  New  York 
pilot-boat,  from  which  he  learned  his  whereabouts, 
but  after  passing  George's  Shoal,  about  one  hundred 
miles  to  the  eastward  of  Cape  Cod,  he  determined 
to  shape  his  course  straight  to  the  westward  until 
sighting  the  land. 

Notwithstanding  the  lack  of  observations  to  deter- 
mine his  situation,  the  captain  might  easily  have 
discovered  his  danger  by  sounding,  but  instead  of 
doing  so  he  held  his  course  steadily  without  recourse 
to  the  lead,  until  the  dark,  gloomy  outline  of  the 
land  loomed  up,  ominous  and  forbidding. 

It  was  evident  from  Benny's  story  that  Captain 
Clark  realized  at  once  the  impossibility  of  working 
the  ship  off  from  that  lee  shore,  because  to  the  best 
of  the  lad's  belief  it  must  have  been  half  an  hour 


30  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

before  the  ill-fated  craft  struck  the  rocks  when  he 
was  lashed  to  the  spar,  while  at  the  same  time  prep- 
arations were  being  made  to  care  for  the  captain's 
wife  in  similar  fashion. 

It  is  only  in  case  anything  should  happen  that 
this  is  being  done,"  Mrs.  Clark  said  to  the  boy, 
with  the  evident  purpose  of  strengthening  his  cour- 
age. "  It  may  be  that  all  will  go  well  with  us,  and 
then  you  and  your  Fluff  will  only  have  had  a  little 
disagreeable  experience." 

Twice  before  the  final  crash  came  did  one  of  the 
crew  speak  words  of  cheer  to  the  lad,  who  was  unable 
to  see  what  might  be  going  on  around  him,  and 
from  the  nature  of  such  remarks  he  believed  all 
hands  felt  certain  the  Amazonia  must  strike  the 
coast. 

That,  in  substance,  was  all  the  information  Benny 
could  give  regarding  such  matters  as  must  be  em- 
bodied in  the  keeper's  report ;  but  the  men,  curious 
to  know  how  he  chanced  to  be  aboard  the  ship, 
plied  him  with  questions,  and  when  they  had  been 
answered  the  story  of  Benny  Foster's  life  was  told. 

When  quite  young,  he  and  his  mother  had  sailed 
in  the  ship  West  Wind,  of  which  his  father  was  the 
captain,  on  what  the  lad  believed  was  to  be  a  long 
voyage;  but  he  failed  to  remember  the  port  to 
which  the  ship  was  bound.  However,  so  far  as  con- 
cerned him,  that  was  of  no  particular  importance. 


BENNY'S  STORY.  31 

At  some  time — Benny  thought  he  might  have 
been  six  years  of  age  just  then — his  father  was  taken 
ill  in  the  port  of  Calcutta,  and  it  was  necessary  to 
provide  a  new  master  for  the  ship. 

Captain  Foster  and  his  family  took  lodgings 
ashore,  and  within  a  year  Benny  was  both  mother- 
less and  fatherless.  From  that  time  on  he  had  been 
cared  for  in  haphazard  fashion  by  such  acquaintances 
as  his  parents  had  formed,  and  he  believed  some 
efforts  were  made  toward  learning  if  he  had  any 
relatives  in  the  United  States. 

Whether  anything  was  accomplished  in  that  direc- 
tion he  could  not  say;  but  simply  knew  that  in  Jan- 
uary of  this  same  year  Captain  Clark  sought  him  out 
for  the  purpose  of  carrying  him  to  Boston,  having 
learned  of  his  condition  from  an  American  merchant 
in  Calcutta. 

On  board  the  Amazonia  he  performed  any  light 
tasks  which  would  have  come  within  a  cabin-boy's 
line  of  duty;  but  was  treated  by  Mrs.  Clark  as  a 
friend  rather  than  a  servant,  and  so  intimate  an  ac- 
quaintance had  sprung  up  between  himself  and  Fluff 
that  he  came  to  consider  it  his  especial  duty  to  care 
for  the  little  Angora  terrier,  whose  bright  pink  eyes 
gleaming  out  from  amid  the  fluff  of  silken  white  hair 
gave  him  the  appearance  of  being  a  remarkably  in- 
telligent animal. 

"  And  he  's  just  as  bright  as  he  looks,"  Benny 


32  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

said,  as  he  concluded  the  poor  story  of  his  own  life, 
while  he  hugged  the  dog  yet  closer  to  his  bosom. 
"  Fluff  knows  almost  everything  I  say  to  him,  and 
what  he  don't  just  understand  he  guesses  at.  Why, 
before  we  had  been  out  a  week,  Mrs.  Clark  let  him 
sleep  with  me  in  my  berth,  and  when  it  was  heavy 
weather  this  poor  little  fellow  would  almost  the  same 
as  talk  to  me,  scolding  because  the  jumping  of  the 
ship  made  him  feel  badly.  His  name  was  Fluff 
Clark,  of  course;  but  now  that  he  has  n't  got  any- 
body in  all  this  wide  world  but  me,  I  'm  going  to 
adopt  him,  and  he  '11  be  Fluff  C.  Foster  after  this." 

"  It  strikes  me  there  's  need  of  some  one  adopting 
you,  lad,"  Keeper  Downey  said  with  a  grave  smile. 
44  I  'm  not  certain  but  that  Fluff  is  better  able  to 
care  for  himself  than  you  are." 

He  's  too  good  a  dog  to.  need  much  caring  for. 
Why,  all  he  'd  eat  in  a  day  would  n't  amount  to  a 
cent's  worth,  though  he  's  mighty  particular  about 
having  things  fixed  up  just  such  a  way,  and  his  pink 
nose  will  wrinkle  quick  when  there  's  nothing  but 
salt  beef  left  over  for  him.  We  always  had  lump 
sugar  to  give  him  for  a  treat ;  but  he  'd  get  along 
without  that  if  he  knew  I  could  n't  afford  to  buy  it 
for  him.  It  would  surprise  you  to  see  how  much 
that  dog  knows." 

Then  Benny,  eager  that  his  pet  should  be  duly 
appreciated,  exhibited  the  dog  in  his  various  tricks, 


BENNY'S  STORY.  33 

and  the  members  of  the  crew,  seeing  that  by  such 
means  the  lad's  thoughts  were  kept  from  his  great 
loss,  applauded  the  performance  until  Fluff  had 
shown  himself  half  a  dozen  times  over  in  his  various 
acrobatic  feats. 

Keeper  Downey  rewarded  the  dumb  performer, 
who  certainly  sustained  the  reputation  which  his 
young  master  had  given  him,  and  it  was  almost  as 
if  those  cold,  silent  forms  in  the  boat-room  had 
been  forgotten. 

Benny's  clothing  was  thoroughly  dried,  and  while 
Fluff  entertained  the  crew,  the  lad  fully  dressed  him- 
self, donning  an  old  pea-jacket  many  sizes  too  large, 
which  had  been  wrapped  about  him  when  he  was 
lashed  to  the  spar. 

Keeper  Downey  set  about  making  his  report  to 
the  Department,  based  on  information  supplied  by 
the  only  survivor  of  the  Amazonia,  and  the  men  re- 
sumed their  duties  of  watching  for  wreckage  from 
the  ill-fated  ship,  leaving  the  homeless  boy  and  his 
only  friend  comparatively  alone. 

During  the  remainder  of  this  day  every  man  took 
good  care  that  Benny  should  not  find  his  way  into 
the  boat-room,  and  all  seemed  to  believe  it  their 
duty  to  prevent  the  lad's  thoughts  from  straying 
back  into  the  past. 

A  toy  full-rigged  ship,  which  one  of  the  crew  had 
fashioned  during  his  hours  of  leisure,  was  brought 


34  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

down  from  its  shelf  that  Benny  might  make  a  criti- 
cal examination  of  it,  and  each  in  turn  had  some 
odd  souvenir  or  curious  memento  of  the  sea  to  attract 
the  lad's  attention,  until,  from  the  appearance  of 
the  mess-table,  one  would  have  said  a  party  of 
children  were  being  entertained. 

Despite  all  their  efforts,  however,  Benny's  mind 
would  go  back  to  the  terrible  evening  just  spent, 
and  many  times  while  the  kindly  hearted  men  were 
doing  their  best  to  cause  forgetfulness,  the  big  tears 
overflowed  his  eyelids,  although  the  boy  did  his  best 
to  repress  them. 

When  evening  came,  and  supper  had  been  served, 
both  Benny  and  Fluff  were  ready  to  retire,  and  after 
the  lad  was  tucked  snugly  in  Sam  Hardy's  bed  with 
the  dog's  pink  nose  resting  over  his  arm,  such  of  the 
crew  as  were  not  on  duty  came  together  to  discuss 
the  future  of  these  waifs  who  had  been  thrown  up 
by  the  sea  into  their  keeping. 

There  was  no  formality  attending  this  conference. 
From  Keeper  Downey  to  Surfman  Sawyer,  all  ap- 
peared to  believe  that  the  lad  and  the  dog  were 
under  the  especial  protection  of  the  crew  attached 
to  this  station,  and  not  one  made  any  effort  to  shift 
the  responsibility  to  another's  shoulders. 

"  It  stands  to  reason  that  the  captain  of  the  Ama- 
zonia did  not  know  anything  about  the  lad's  people, 
otherwise  he  or  his  wife  must  have  said  something 


BENNY'S  STORY.  35 

that  Benny  would  have  overheard,"  Keeper  Downey 
began,  by  way  of  opening  what  all  tacitly  understood 
was  a  meeting  of  the  "  board  of  guardians."  "  It 
may  be  that  when  the  story  of  the  wreck  is  told  in 
the  newspapers,  as  will  be  done  by  to-morrow,  some 
one  comes  forward  to  claim  the  lad,  though  I  doubt 
it.  Now  there  is  nothing  in  the  Service  as  provides 
for  such  as  he,  except  so  far  as  giving  food  and 
shelter  to  the  shipwrecked  until  they  can  be  re- 
moved to  other  quarters." 

"  And  I  allow  it  would  n't  be  according  to  regula- 
tions for  us  to  keep  him  here  ?  "  Joe  Gushing  said 
interrogatively,  and  Keeper  Downey  replied  em- 
phatically : 

"  Not  unless  we  have  permission  from  headquar- 
ters. But  whether  that  can  be  gained  or  not  goes 
beyond  me." 

"  Suppose  we  don't  keep  him  ?  Allow  that  we 
send  him  away  ?  "  Henry  Robbins  asked.  '  Where 
could  a  boy  like  him  be  put  ?  " 

"  There  's  no  other  place  but  the  poorhouse,  if  it 
so  be  he  has  n't  any  relatives." 

"  He  sha'n't  go  there,  if  I  have  to  pay  for  his 
keeping  out  of  my  own  pocket,"  Sam  Hardy  said 
decidedly,  whereat  the  other  members  of  the  crew 
applauded,  taking  care  to  make  but  little  noise  lest 
the  sleeper  in  the  chamber  above  should  be  awak- 
ened. 


36  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

Then  Keeper  Downey  continued,  much  as  if  some 
motion  had  been  put,  seconded,  and  carried : 

"  Since  we  are  all  agreed  that  Benny  and  Fluff 
are  on  our  hands  until  a  better  home  can  be  found 
for  'em,  the  question  comes  as  to  how  we  '11  divide 
the  expense." 

Let  the  cost  be  put  equally  among  the  crew," 
Joe  Gushing  suggested.  '  It  can't  take  such  a 
terrible  amount  of  money  to  keep  this  little  shaver 
and  his  toy  dog." 

"  We  '11  let  every  man  contribute  according  to 
his  wages,"  Keeper  Downey  said,  in  the  tone  of  one 
who  has  finally  settled  the  question.  '  That  will 
be  the  fairest  way,  and,  as  Joe  says,  we  never  shall 
miss  it  in  the  long  run.  It  's  where  we  can  keep 
him  that  is  going  to  be  the  hardest  thing  to  settle 
on." 

"  If  we  pay  his  bills  and  he  don't  cost  the  Govern- 
ment a  cent,  what  's  to  prevent  having  him  with  us 
all  the  time  ?  "  Dick  Sawyer  asked.  '  I  '11  guaran- 
tee that  if  we  fix  up  a  letter  to  the  General  Super- 
intendent of  the  Life-Saving  Service,  giving  the 
particulars,  and  explaining  that  the  boy  can  help  us 
a  good  bit  in  the  way  of  washing  dishes,  trimming 
lanterns,  and  that  sort  of  work,  there  won't  be  a 
question  raised  as  to  his  sharing  a  bed  with  one  of 
us.  I  '11  take  him  in  with  me,  when  it  comes  to 
that." 


BENNY'S  STORY.  37 

"  But  would  it  be  right  to  keep  the  lad  out  here  ?  " 
— and  it  was  as  if  Tom  Downey  asked  the  question  of 
himself.  "  According  to  his  own  story,  he  has  n't 
had  over  much  schooling,  and  nowadays  a  boy  who 
ain't  considerable  of  a  scholar  cuts  a  pretty  poor 
figure." 

"  It  won't  do  any  harm  if  that  sort  of  business  is 
held  off  for  another  year," — and  Joe  Gushing  leaned 
forward  eagerly  as  if  fearing  lest  his  companions 
might  disagree  with  him.  '  I  think  on  these  long 
winter  days  it  will  be  mighty  pleasant  to  have  a 
little  shaver  like  him  toddling  round  here  with  his 
dog,  and  now  the  spring  is  so  near  at  hand  he 
would  n't  get  much  of  a  whack  at  schoolin'  before 
vacation-time  comes.  Besides,  it  would  be  cruel  to 
send  him  off  just  now,  for  he  's  beginning  to  get 
acquainted  with  us,  and  if  you  put  him  among 
strangers  suddenly  all  of  last  night's  business  would 
come  back  to  him  harder  than  ever." 

It  could  readily  be  seen  that  every  member  of  the 
crew  was  as  eager  to  keep  Benny  and  Fluff  with 
them,  for  a  time  at  least,  as  was  Joe  Gushing,  but 
Tom  Downey  insisted  that  they  had  no  right  to  thus 
deprive  the  boy  of  the  opportunity  to  attend  school, 
and  a  long  discussion  followed,  the  result  of  which 
was  extremely  satisfying  to  Joe  Gushing. 

"  It  's  agreed  that  we  keep  the  lad  here  until  next 
fall,  if  it  so  be  permission  is  given  by  the  Depart- 


38  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

ment,"  Keeper  Downey  said  at  length,  summing  up 
the  result  of  the  arguments,  "  and  if  the  rules  of 
the  Service  won't  allow  his  staying,  we  '11  look  around 
for  a  boarding-place  as  near  to  the  station  as  may  be ; 
but  I  reckon  there  ain't  much  need  of  figgerin'  on 
that,  because  the  United  States  Government  can't 
make  any  kick  about  giving  shelter  to  a  little  shaver 
like  Benny,  especially  when  it  don't  cost  a  cent." 

"  Suppose  you  start  the  letter  now  ?  "  Joe  Gush- 
ing suggested.  "  If  it  goes  in  with  your  report  I 
allow  it  '11  have  greater  weight,  seein'  that  the  whole 
story  will  be  fresh  in  the  minds  of  the  officials." 

The  remainder  of  the  crew  believed  Joe's  sugges- 
tion was  timely,  and  Keeper  Downey  did  not  need 
much  urging  to  set  him  about  the  task  immediately. 

After  referring  the  Superintendent  to  the  official 
report  of  the  wreck,  Downey  gave  briefly  the  story 
Benny  had  told  concerning  himself,  making  the 
request  that  the  boy  be  allowed  to  remain  at  the 
station  during  such  time  as  the  crew  were  willing  to 
provide  for  his  wants,  and  concluding  with  the  fol- 
lowing statement: 

"  It  won't  take  a  cent  out  of  the  government,  for 
we,  as  a  crew,  have  agreed  to  pay  his  bills  till  he  can 
manage  affairs  for  himself,  and  the  little  he  costs 
will  be  more  than  balanced  by  what  labor  he  can 
perform.  He  appears  to  be  a  willing  lad,  and 
there  's  many  an  odd  job  he  can  do  when  we  have  a 


BENNY'S  STORY.  39 

long  spell  of  hard  work.  It  will  be  a  good  trade  for 
us,  whichever  way  you  look  at  the  matter,  and 
surely  the  people  of  this  big  country  won't  begrudge 
the  giving  of  a  shelter  to  a  boy  who  has  been  in 
such  hard  luck,  especially  when  there  '11  be  abso- 
lutely no  outlay  on  his  account." 

If  that  don't  fix  things,  then  the  Life-Saving 
Service  is  run  under  different  rules  and  regulations 
than  I  've  always  reckoned  on,"  Joe  Gushing  said 
in  a  tone  of  satisfaction.  "  I  allow  we  can  count 
on  having  Benny  and  Fluff  with  us  so  long  as  we 
pay  their  bills,  and  I  'm  going  to  make  first-class 
surf  men  out  of  them  both,  or  know  the  reason  why." 


CHAPTER  IV. 

ON   PATROL. 

When  Benny  and  Fluff  came  down-stairs  next 
morning  after  the  meeting  of  the  "  board  of  guar- 
dians," all  the  crew  were  in  the  mess-room,  and 
Keeper  Downey  greeted  the  lad  right  cheerily  as  he 
said : 

"  It  stands  to  reason,  Benny,  that  you  have  been 
troubled  more  or  less  about  what  's  to  become  of 
you,  seein'  's  you  've  got  no  relatives  that  you  know 
about,  an'  no  friends,  except  it  may  be  them  as  are 
before  you,  this  side  of  India.  You  must  have 
something  to  eat,  and  enough  clothin'  to  keep  the 
frost  out,  to  say  nothing  of  providin'  a  home  for 
the  dog." 

Benny  looked  about  him  piteously.  This  broach- 
ing the  subject  which  had  been  present  in  his  mind 
almost  constantly  since  he  realized  his  desolate  con- 
dition, seemed  much  like  the  preface  of  some  dis- 
agreeable communication. 

"  Have  you  got  to  send  us  away  right  off,  Mr. 
40 


ON  PATROL.  41 

Downey?"  he  asked,  pressing  Fluff's  pink  nose 
against  his  cheek  as  if  the  contact  gave  him  courage. 

"  I  don't  reckon  that  's  got  to  be  done,  lad;  but 
you  must  understand  that  something  ought  to  be 
settled  within  a  reasonably  short  time,  and  chiefly 
for  your  own  good.  It  's  not  benefiting  a  boy  to 
allow  him  to  remain  idle " 

"  But  I  'm  willing  to  work,  Mr.  Downey,  and  I 
was  thinking  when  we  came  down-stairs  that  I  'd  ask 
you  if  there  was  n't  some  town  near  by  where  I 
might  find  a  job." 

"  I  allow  the  town  's  there,  Benny,  but  whether 
a  lad  of  your  size  and  build  could  get  a  job  big 
enough  to  pay  for  the  little  he  and  the  dog 
would  eat  is  another  question.  If  it  so  be  you  was 
minded  to  stay  in  the  country,  say  out  on  the  sea- 
shore, I  should  n't  be  surprised  if  a  piece  of  work 
could  be  scared  up  that  would  fix  things  smooth,  so 
far  as  it  comes  to  board  and  lodging.  I  ain't 
allowin'  there  'd  be  very  much  more  than  that  in  it, 
'cause  you  see,  Benny,  my  lad,  it  don't  stand  to 
reason  you  're  worth  any  more." 

"  I  'd  do  anything,  Mr.  Downey,  anything  that 
would  pay  for  our-  living,  and  I  'm  sure  Fluff 
would  n't  mind  it  so  very  much  if  he  did  n't  get 
sugar  when  he  knew  I  could  n't  earn  any  money  to 
buy  it  with." 

"  Well,  my  son,  this  'ere  job  I  've  got  in  my  eye 


42  THE  LIFE  SAVERS. 

would  likely  pay  enough  so  that  you  could  afford  to 
keep  Fluff  C.  Foster  in  sugar.  Leastways,  I  reckon 
it  would  n't  take  much  bargaining  to  bring  it  around 
that  way." 

'  When  shall  I  go  to  work  ?  " 
'  It  ain't  well  to  lose  any  time,  so  me  and  my 
mates  have  agreed  that  you  'd  better  start  right  in 
this  morning  as  soon  as  you  Ve  had  breakfast." 

Benny  looked  around  upon  the  weather-beaten, 
kindly  faces,  and  a  big  lump  came  up  in  his  throat 
which  caused  him  no  slight  effort  in  the  swallowing 
of  it.  He  had  known  these  men  hardly  more  than 
twenty-four  hours,  and  yet  in  that  time  they  had 
shown  themselves  as  well  disposed  as  if  they  had 
been  his  best  friends,  and  the  thought  of  leaving 
them  to  go  among  strangers  brought  the  boy  genuine 
sorrow. 

He  buried  his  face  in  Fluff's  silken  hair  for  an  in- 
stant, and  then,  looking  up,  said  with  a  brave  effort 
to  prevent  his  lip  from  quivering,  although  he  could 
not  choke  back  the  tremor  in  his  voice: 
'  I  am  ready  to  go  now,  sir." 

"  According  to  the  looks  of  things  you  ain't 
mightily  pleased  at  the  prospect  of  leaving," — and 
Thomas  Downey  glanced  meaningly  at  his  com- 
rades. 

'  You  've  all  been  very  good  to  me,  sir,  and  if 
you  'd  ever  known  how  lonesome  it  is  to  be  alone. 


ON  PA  TROL.  43 

same  's  Fluff  and  I  are  now,  you  could  n't  wonder 
that  we  was  a  little  mite  sorry  to  go  away  from  such 
a  nice  place;  but  I  '11 — 

Again  Benny  buried  his  face  in  Fluff's  coat  that 
he  might  have  time  to  choke  back  the  rebellious 
sobs,  and  Sam  Hardy  whispered  in  a  voice  that  was 
not  remarkable  for  its  steadiness : 

"  It  's  too  bad  to  keep  the  little  duffer  in  sus- 
pense, Tom." 

"  He  's  showing  what  he  's  made  of  now." 

"  And  he  's  got  grit,"  Joe  Gushing  added. 

By  this  time  Benny  had  conquered  his  emotions 
once  more,  and  looking  up  said  with  a  feeble  at- 
tempt at  a  smile : 

"  You  've  all  been  awful  good  to  Fluff  and  me, 
and  we  sha'n't  forget  it.  Unless  we  're  going  too 
far  away,  both  of  us  would  like  to  come  back  once 
in  a  while  to  see  you." 

"  But  you  don't  want  to  leave  before  breakfast  ?  " 
Tom  Downey  suggested,  and  Benny,  manfully 
struggling  with  this  new  grief,  replied : 

"  I  ain't  hungry;  but  if  you  '11  give  Fluff  a  little 
something, — 'cause  he  's  a  dog  an'  don't  really  know 

all  that  's  happening " 

I  reckon  we  need  n't  keep  this  up  any  longer, 
lad.  You  've  got  a  job,  an'  we  're  hoping  there 
won't  be  any  call  to  leave  this  'ere  station;  but  if  it 
can't  be  fixed  as  we  've  reckoned  on,  you  shall  live 


44  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

close  by.  There  's  nothing  in  the  rules  to  prevent 
your  comin'  here  every  day,  for  regulation  number 
one,  nought,  seven,  regarding  the  conduct  of  keep- 
ers, says  that  they  must  be  '  courteous  and  polite  to 
visitors,'  but  it  don't  state  how  often  a  visitor  may 
come." 

The  members  of  the  crew  expressed  their  satisfac- 
tion in  various  ways  at  the  keeper's  astuteness  in 
thus  discovering  a  means  of  at  least  partially  carrying 
out  their  desires,  in  case  the  head  of  the  Department 
disapproved  of  their  taking  on  an  assistant ;  but 
Benny  looked  about  him  in  perplexity.  He  failed 
utterly  to  understand  the  proposition  which  Tom 
Downey  believed  had  been  made  exceedingly  plain, 
and  Sam  Hardy  took  it  upon  himself  to  explain 
what  they,  as  a  crew,  proposed  doing. 

"  It  's  just  like  this,  Benny,"  he  began  in  a  pater- 
nal tone:  "  It  kind  of  seems  as  if  you  and  Mr.  Fluff 
C.  Foster  was  thrown  on  your  beam  ends,  so  to 
speak,  with  the  wind  and  tide  both  against  you. 
Now  the  government  hires  us  to  assist  crafts  in  dis- 
tress, and,  of  course,  you  comin'  under  that  head, 
we  're  bound  to  do  all  we  can,  else  there  'd  be  dan- 
ger of  losin'  our  job.  See  ?  " 

A  look  of  perplexity  still  remained  upon  the  lad's 
face,  and  Joe  Gushing  proceeded  to  perform  his  part 
in  making  plain  the  situation  of  affairs. 

"  It  's  like  this,  Benny:  Tom  and  Sam  mean  all 


ON  PATROL.  45 

they  say,  but  don't  just  give  it  to  you  in  a  way  that 
can  be  understood.  Now  a  good,  willing  boy  what 
will  tend  out  right  sharp  on  such  odd  jobs  as  are 
layin'  round  the  station,  can  earn  his  way  here ;  an' 
when  the  Superintendent  of  the  Life-Saving  Service 
hears  how  we,  as  a  crew,  have  put  this  thing,  it  don't 
stand  to  reason  he  's  going  to  make  any  kick. 
'Cause  why  ?  'Cause  there  ain't  anything  in  the 
revised  regulations  of  the  service  as  says  a  word 
against  it.  So  while  we  Ve  got  to  wait  a  spell  for 
the  proper  authority,  according  to  my  way  of  think- 
ing, an'  the  rest  of  us  are  pretty  much  the  same 
mind,  it  's  as  good  as  fixed  already." 

As  if  thinking  it  was  necessary  to  make  some 
reply,  Benny  nodded  his  head,  but  still  continued 
to  gaze  inquiringly  from  one  to  the  other,  for  as  yet 
he  failed  to  understand  the  alleged  explanations, 
and  Dick  Sawyer  took  it  upon  himself  to  throw 
additional  light  on  the  subject. 

It  don't  appear  to  me  as  if  everything  was  just 
plain  to  you,  lad,  an'  yet  Joe  straightened  up  what 
Tom  an'  Sam  did  n't  get  at.  We  settled  the  whole 
thing  last  night  after  you  'd  gone  to  bed,  an'  the 
way  I  look  at  it  is,  that  it  '11  be  as  much  of  a  favor 
to  us  as  to  you  an'  the  dog,  so  there  's  no  need  to 
feel  as  if  you  was  n't  paying  your  way." 

'  Where  is  it  Fluff  and  I  are  going  to  work  ?  " 
Benny  asked,  after  waiting  an  instant  to  learn  if  any 


46  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

other  member  of  the  crew  had  an  explanation  to 
make,  and  Tom  Downey  replied  in  a  tone  of 
authority : 

'  Why,  right  here,  of  course,  lad.  Ain't  that 
what  \Vv.  've  been  telling  you  about  ?  \V  e  're  count- 
ing on  keeping  you  in  the  station,  if  it  so  be 
authority  is  given  from  headquarters,  and  it  don't 
seem  as  if  there  could  be  any  objection.  You  can 
knock  about  pretty  much  as  you  please,  though  we 
count  that  you  '11  help  the  cook,  and  keep  the  lamps 
and  lanterns  trimmed." 

'  Fluff  and  I  are  to  live  right  here  ?  "  Benny  cried 
excitedly,  in  his  excitement  allowing  the  dog  to 
drop  to  the  floor,  where  the  latter  set  up  a  shrill 
barking  as  if  in  approval  of  the  plan. 

It  looks  as  if  you  'd  be  glad  to  stay,"   Sam 
Hardy  said  in  a  tone  of  satisfaction. 

"  Glad!"  Benny  exclaimed.  "  Why,  you  men 
can't  think  how  happy  it  will  make  Fluff  and  me! 
Of  course  we  was  ready  to  leave,  and  would  n't 
have  said  a  word  against  it,  because  we  've  got  our 
living  to  earn ;  but  you  've  been  so  good  to  us  that 
it  seems  as  if  you  was  our  own  folks,  an'  we  'd  have 
been  awful  lonesome  to  go  away  where  we  did  n't 
know  anybody.  And  you  sha'n't  be  sorry,  either, 
if  there  's  anything  we  can  do  to  pay  our  way, 
'cause  I  know  how  to  take  care  of  the  lamps,  and 
wait  on  the  table,  and — and — and  I  can  wash  dishes 


ON  PATROL.  47 

just  as  well  as  a  woman.  I  did  it  on  the  Amazonia 
all  the  voyage." 

"  We  're  allowing  that  this  'ere  is  a  case  where 
you  regularly  attend  to  your  share  of  the  duties," 
Tom  Downey  said,  speaking  now  in  his  official  tone. 
"  We  don't  believe  in  making  paupers  out  of  boys, 
no  matter  whatever  bad  luck  they  've  fallen  into; 
but  besides  the  work  you  '11  do,  I  reckon  it  will  be 
kind  of  pleasant  to  have  you  and  the  dog  laying 
round  here, — makes  it  seem  more  like  home.  Now, 
Benny,  you  are  to  take  hold  from  this  out.  Get  up 
when  the  cook  does;  do  what  you  can  to  help  him; 
wash  dishes  and  trim  the  lamps.  After  that  the 
time  will  be  pretty  much  your  own,  an'  if  it  so  be 
that  you  can't  sleep  here,  why  we  '11  make  a  deal 
with  Eph  Hannaford's  folks  so  they  '11  give  you 
lodgings.  But  we  won't  talk  about  that  part  of  it. 
Turn  to  for  breakfast  now,  and  then  there  '11  be  a 
chance  to  show  how  handy  you  are." 

The  lump  which  came  into  Benny's  throat  at  the 
thought  that  he  must  leave  the  station  had  suddenly 
taken  its  departure,  and  in  obedience  to  the  keeper's 
orders  the  lad  took  his  seat  at  the  breakfast  table 
alone,  for  the  crew  had  already  broken  their 
fast. 

Tom  Downey  observed  that  the  boy  moved  the 
chairs  away  from  his  immediate  vicinity  before  sit- 
ting down,  and  it  was  apparent  to  all  that,  according 


48  THE  LIFE   SAV.ERS. 

to  Master  Fluff's  ideas,  something  had  gone  wrong, 
for  the  dog  danced  about  excitedly,  giving  vent 
from  time  to  time  to  a  low  yelp  of  what  seemed  to 
be  disapproval. 

"  What 's  the  matter  with  Fluff  C.  Foster  ?  "  Sam 
Hardy  asked. 

'  He  '11  be  all  right  after  a  spell,"  Benny  replied. 

He  '11  soon  know  the  difference,  'cause  I  '11  make 
him  understand  it." 
'  Understand  what  ?  " 

'  Why,  you  see,  he  always  sat  by  the  side  of  me 
on  board  the  ship,  and  he  thinks  it  's  funny  he  can't 
do  it  now,  I  s'pose;  but  he  's  a  good,  sensible  dog, 
and  won't  want  to  break  over  any  rules  after  he  gets 
a  little  used  to  it." 

'  Why  don't  you  let  him  sit  by  your  side  now  ? " 

"  I  was  afraid  it  would  n't  be  right.  Mrs.  Clark 
said  she  'd  have  a  good  deal  of  trouble  to  break  him 
of  the  habit  after  they  got  ashore." 

"Will  he  behave  himself?"  Keeper  Downey 
asked. 

"  Fluff  behave  himself!  Why,  sir,  he  's  just  as 
nice  an'  polite  at  the  table  as  any  fellow  you  ever 
saw. 

"  Give  him  a  show,  and  let  's  see  what  he  '11  do." 

Benny  pulled  a  chair  by  the  side  of  the  one  in 
which  he  was  sitting,  and  without  waiting  for  further 
invitation  the  dog  leaped"  into  it,  content  at  being 


ON  PATROL.  49 

by  the  side  of  his  young  master,    and  making  no 
effort  to  get  at  the  food  before  him. 

The  crew  watched  with  interest  what  was  to  them 
very  much  like  a  performance  gotten  up  for  their 
especial  benefit,  and  during  all  the  time  Benny  re- 
mained at  the  table  Fluff  behaved  himself  with  the 
greatest  propriety. 

When  the  boy  had  satisfied  his  hunger  he  poured 
a  saucer  one  third  full  of  coffee,  broke  into  it  a  small 
portion  of  bread,  and  Fluff  immediately  got  down 
from  the  chair,  knowing  that  his  meal  was  ready. 

While  the  dog  was  eating  Sam  Hardy  exclaimed, 
as  if  the  proceedings  filled  him  with  surprise: 

'  Well,  he  's  got  more  sense  than  I  ever  gave  a 
dumb  animal  credit  for  havin',  an'  so  far  as  I  'm 
concerned,  he  's  welcome  to  sit  at  any  table  where 
I  am." 

"  We  '11  give  him  a  regular  place  by  Benny's 
side,"  Tom  Downey  added,  and  thus  were  the  two 
officially  and  formally  received  into  the  family  of 
the  life  savers. 

The  new  member  of  the  crew  did  not  wait  to  be 
told  how  he  might  make  himself  useful,  but  imme- 
diately after  the  meal  was  ended  he  set  about  clearing 
the  table,  washing  dishes,  and  setting  to  rights  the 
interior  of  the  station. 

The  men  watched  him  curiously  while  he  moved 
quickly  but  noiselessly  to  and  fro,  until,  having 


50  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

swept  the  floor,  he  began  dusting  the  different 
articles  of  furniture,  when  Sam  Hardy  exclaimed 
emphatically: 

"  Mark  my  word,  that  lad  will  be  a  big  addition 
to  this  'ere  place!  He  's  tidy,  willing,  an'  quiet; 
what  more  could  we  want  ?  " 

"  I  reckon  he  '11  do,"  Keeper  Downey  replied  in 
a  tone  of  content,  and  straightway  the  members  of 
the  crew  set  about  their  several  duties,  satisfied  that 
they  had  made  no  mistake  in  assuming  the  guar- 
dianship of  Benny  and  Fluff. 

The  building  was  cleanly,  when  viewed  from  a 
man's  standpoint;  but  Benny,  who  had  profited  by 
the  teachings  of  Mrs.  Clark,  saw  very  much  which 
should  be  done,  and  from  the  time  breakfast  was 
over  until  late  in  the  afternoon  he  did  not  spend  an 
idle  moment.  As  a  matter  of  fact  Fluff  was  equally 
busy;  when  not  exhibiting  his  tricks  for  the  amuse- 
ment of  the  men,  he  was  trudging  to  and  fro  at  the 
heels  of  his  young  master  as  if  superintending  the 
labor,  and  blissfully  ignorant  of  the  fact  that  old 
Maje  sat  outside  displaying  no  slight  jealousy  and 
anger  because  he  had  not  been  admitted  to  the 
mess-room  according  to  custom. 

"  It  stands  to  reason  that  the  old  dog  will  be  a 
bit  disagreeable  at  first,"  Joe  Gushing  said,  as  he 
called  attention  to  Maje  in  front  of  the  tool-house. 
"  We  must  introduce  the  two  before  long,  and  once 


ON  PA  TROL.  5 1 

they  are  friends  it  '11  be  more  lively  for  Fluff  C. 
Foster." 

A  ring  at  the  telephone  which  connected  the 
station  with  the  neighboring  city  called  Keeper 
Downey  into  the  adjoining  room,  and  after  receiv- 
ing a  certain  message  he  summoned  Sam  Hardy. 


"  The  bodies  are  to  be  taken  away  this  afternoon, 
Sam.  The  coroner  says  the  undertaker's  team  has 
already  started,  so  we  can  count  on  its  being  here 
about  sunset.  Now  there  's  no  good  reason  why  that 
little  shaver  should  see  all  the  dismal  work,  for  it 
would  only  bring  all  the  sorrow  back  into  his  heart." 

"  I  go  on  patrol  in  half  an  hour;  why  wouldn't  it 
be  a  good  idea  to  take  him  with  me  ?  " 

"  I  'm  afraid  the  tramp  would  be  too  long.  You 
see  he  's  just  come  off  shipboard,  an'  is  n't  in  good 
trim  for  much  walking." 


52  THE  LIFE  SAVERS. 

'  Joe  Gushing  will  come  along,  I  reckon,  an'  when 
the  boy  begins  to  tire,  can  come  back  with  him." 

'  That  's  a  good  idea,  Sam.  See  to  it  that  he  's 
wrapped  up  well,  and  give  him  a  lift  over  the 
roughest  places." 

"  Don't  be  feered  but  that  I  '11  take  good  care  of 
him.  What  about  the  dog  ?  Old  Maje  will  make 
short  work  of  him  if  he  ain't  watched  sharp." 

"  I  '11  attend  to  that  part  of  it,  if  Ben  does  n't 
want  to  take  Fluff  with  him.  Get  ready,  and  don't 
let  Joe  bring  him  back  until  the  work  here  has  been 
finished." 

The  new  member  of  the  crew  was  scouring  knives 
when  Sam  proposed  that  he  go  on  the  patrol,  and 
from  the  expression  on  his  face  it  could  readily  be 
seen  that  he  was  in  favor  of  accepting  the  invitation ; 
but  after  a  brief  time  of  hesitation  Benny  replied : 

"  I  'd  like  to  go,  Mr.  Hardy;  but  there  's  so 
much  to  be  done  here  that  I  can't  get  away.  It  '11 
be  a  good  while  before  I  'm  through  with  this  job." 

"  Hark  you,  Benjamin:  we  count  on  your  doing 
the  odd  chores  about  the  station;  but  don't  reckon 
every  minute  is  to  be  spent  working.  You  've  done 
enough  for  one  day,  so  get  your  duds  together,  an' 
we  '11  see  what  may  be  needed ;  it  '11  be  a  cold  tramp 
along  the  coast  while  the  wind  is  howlin'  at  this 
rate." 

"  I  '11  ask  Mr.  Downey " 


ON  PATROL.  53 

"  Never  mind  that  part  of  it,  my  son.  I  've 
spoken  with  the  keeper,  an'  he  thinks  it  '11  do  you 
good  to  take  a  spin  out  of  doors.  What  about 
Fluff?" 

"  May  I  take  him  with  me  ?  " 

"  Sure;  but  I  can't  say  the  wind  won't  blow  him 
away ;  it 's  powerful  strong,  an'  he  don't  carry  much 
ballast." 

"  He  '11  be  glad  enough  to  stay  in  my  arms  most 
of  the  time,"  Benny  cried  gleefully  as  he  went  in 
search  of  his  reefer,  which  Joe  Gushing,  having  been 
given  a  hint  by  Tom  Downey  as  to  what  was  pro- 
posed, had  hung  in  front  of  the  fire. 

Had  Benny  taken  all  the  clothing  his  "  guardians  " 
offered  to  loan,  it  would  have  been  literally  impos- 
sible for  him  to  walk.  He  did  accept,  however,  a 
pair  of  rubber  boots  many  sizes  too  large,  a  woollen 
muffler,  and  a  pair  of  mittens,  and  when  these  had 
been  adjusted  according  to  the  advice  of  all  hands, 
he  looked  like  an  animated  bundle  of  clothing  rather 
than  a  living  boy. 

Fluff  was  disposed  of  under  the  large  reefer,  and 
the  party  set  out,  Joe  Gushing  leading  the  way,  with 
Sam  Hardy  walking  by  Benny's  side. 

The  boy  observed  that  each  of  his  companions  put 
into  his  overcoat  pocket  a  bar  of  wood,  fashioned  as 
if  intended  to  be  used  as  a  handle,  and  three  small 
packages  looking  not  unlike  sticks  of  soap,  wrapped 


54  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

in  paper.  He  afterward  came  to  know  that  these 
last  were  Coston  signals;  that  when  a  surfman  finds 
it  necessary  to  show  a  light,  he  inserts  one  of  the 
packages  or  sticks  into  the  wooden  handle,  and, 
striking  it  against  a  rock,  or  any  hard  substance, 
produces  a  brilliant  light,  many  times  more  powerful 
than  the  ordinary  "  flare." 

In  addition  to  these  signals  the  men  hung  over 
their  shoulders  round  leathern  cases  which  looked 
much  like  the  covering  of  a  small  clock  or  a  large 
watch,  and  Sam  Hardy  said  as  they  left  the  station : 

"  I  'm  allowin',  my  son,  you  don't  understand  the 
meanin'  of  all  this  'ere  rigging;  but  keep  your  eyes 
open,  an'  you  '11  soon  find  out  that  we  of  the  Service 
have  more  on  hand  than  sittin'  'round  taking  our 
ease,  as  a  good  many  people  credit  us  with  doing." 

"Are  you  going  out  just  for  a  walk  ?"  Benny 
asked,  finding  it  difficult  to  make  his  way  against  the 
strong,  chilling  wind  which  came  in  over  the  ocean. 
'  Yes,  we  're  out  for  a  walk,"  Joe  Gushing  replied 
with  a  hearty  laugh;  "  but  it  ain't  for  pleasure,  my 
son.  No  matter  what  the  weather  is,  we  're  bound 
to  be  on  the  move  from  sunset  until  sunrise,  watch- 
ing for  any  craft  that  may  be  in  distress." 

"  A  vessel  could  n't  get  into  trouble  on  the  coast 
to-night,"  Benny  said,  with  the  air  of  one  who  is 
familiar  with  the  subject. 

"  Very  likely  not;  but  yet  it  is  our  business  to  be 


ON  PATROL.  55 

on  the  watch  day  and  night,  because  there  's  never 
any  telling  when,  or  how,  we  may  be  needed,  an' 
saving  life  in  a  storm  ain't  the  only  part  of  our  work 
by  a  long  ways,  as  you  '11  come  to  know.  I  reckon 
we  're  far  enough  from  the  station  now,  so  there  's 
no  fear  of  old  Maje,  an'  you  can  give  Fluff  C.  Foster 
a  little  run." 

Benny  brought  the  dog  out  from  under  his  coat, 
and  instantly  he  was  on  the  ground  Fluff  set  off, 
barking  joyously  because  of  being  free;  but  before 
he  had  been  left  to  his  own  devices  twenty  seconds 
he  began  to  howl  as  if  in  alarm. 

The  wind  was  literally  blowing  the  little  fellow 
along,  and,  despite  all  his  efforts,  he  was  unable  to 
make  headway  against  it. 

"  Can't  hold  his  course,"  Sam  said  with  a  laugh, 
"  and  the  worst  of  it  is  that  there  's  no  taking  in  sail 
with  him.  That  long  hair  gives  the  wind  a  good 
hold,  an'  I  reckon  young  Foster  will  be  glad  to  get 
under  your  coat  again,  Benny." 

Not  until  the  dog  had  been  blown  landward  over 
the  slope  of  the  bluff  which  bordered  the  sea,  was 
his  young  master  able  to  come  up  with  him,  and 
once  more  beneath  the  lad's  coat  the  little  fellow 
manifested  his  pleasure  at  having  been  rescued  from 
what  probably  seemed  to  him  a  dangerous  position, 
by  half  growling,  half  whining,  which  Benny  ex- 
plained was  "  the  way  Fluff  talked." 


56  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

"  I  counted  on  seeing  heaps  and  heaps  of  snow," 
the  new  member  of  the  crew  said  in  a  tone  of  dis- 
appointment as  he  trudged  on  between  his  com- 
panions. "  Of  course  the  winter  in  Calcutta  is  n't 
like  what  it  is  here,  and  I  don't  remember  much 
about  the  drifts  of  which  mother  often  spoke." 

'  There  's  snow  and  to  spare,  just  back  of  the 
timbered  land,"  Sam  Hardy  replied  with  a  laugh, 
"  an'  when  you  're  needin'  a  sight  of  it  mighty  bad 
you  can  go  over  the  hill  beyond  the  lighthouses. 
Down  here  on  the  point,  where  the  wind  has  full 
sweep,  it  's  mostly  blown  away.  Now,  for  instance, 
lookin'  up  from  the  station,  I  reckon  you  won't  see  so 
much  as  would  make  a  snowball  of  respectable  size." 
But  we  find  it  in  spots  down  here,"  Joe  Gushing 
interrupted.  '  Back  of  the  rocks  the  wind  packs  it 
into  sheltered  places,  and  although  there  's  none  to 
be  seen  from  the  station  door,  we  often  come  upon 
drifts  three  or  four  feet  deep.  It  's  precious  hard 
work  draggin'  the  beach-wagon  then." 

Benny  soon  had  an  illustration  of  his  companions' 
statements.  They  had  been  walking  over  land 
whereon  not  a  single  fleck  of  white  could  be  seen, 
when  suddenly,  coming  upon  a  gully  which  was 
sheltered  from  the  wind  by  the  cliffs,  they  were 
floundering  in  a  deposit  of  snow  so  deep  that  only 
with  the  greatest  difficulty  could  the  boy  force  his 
way  through. 


ON  PATROL.  57 

"  It  's  always  a  feast  or  a  famine  out  here,  lad," 
Sam  Hardy  said  grimly.  "  No  snow  whatever,  or 
too  much  of  it." 

Then  he  led  the  way  across  what  might  have  been 
mistaken,  save  for  the  dead  grass,  for  a  summer 
landscape. 

The  little  party  were  not  far  from  the  station  when 
the  men  halted  in  front  of  a  post  to  which  was  at- 
tached a  small  iron  receptacle  containing  a  key, 
fastened  to  a  chain,  and  Sam  said,  as,  removing  his 
mittens,  he  took  this  out: 

"  Now  you  shall  see,  my  son,  the  meaning  of  this 
'ere  bit  of  furniture  we  're  obliged  to  carry.  A  dis- 
honest surfman  might  go  a  short  distance  from  the 
station,  find  a  snug  loafing-place,  and  spend  his  time 
of  duty  there  instead  of  patrolling  the  coast,  if  it 
was  n't  for  the  little  telltale  inside  this  case.  We 
must  be  at  certain  places  in  order  to  get  at  the  keys 
which  fit  the  lock — in  this  wise." 

As  he  spoke  Sam  turned  the  key  in  what  was 
seemingly  a  tiny  lock  on  the  leathern  case. 

"  Inside  is  a  sort  of  clock  which  makes  a  record 
whenever  I  turn  the  key.  After  we  are  back  at  the 
station  Tom  Downey  can  tell  if  I  have  visited  all 
the  points  where  the  key  is  kept,  and  exactly  what 
time  I  was  there.  It  makes  a  record  for  him  to  look 
up,  and  is  a  satisfaction  to  me,  because  it  proves  I 
have  done  my  whole  duty." 


58  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

At  nearly  every  point  along  the  rugged  coast  Sam 
and  Joe  had  some  story  to  tell  of  disaster,  or  of 
saving  life  from  the  raging  waters  by  the  crew  of 
which  Benny  had  good  reason  now  to  consider  him- 
self a  member. 

Here,  a  schooner,  having  been  dismasted,  was 
thrown  up  on  the  hidden  reef  which  makes  out  some 
distance  from  the  land,  and,  during  a  furious  storm 
when  the  sleet  and  hail  cut  into  the  flesh  like  needles, 
the  life  savers  were  forced  to  drag  their  apparatus 
through  the  snowdrifts  from  two  to  four  feet  deep, 
after  which,  by  aid  of  the  gun  and  the  breeches- 
buoy,  every  man  was  saved. 

There,  three  boys,  whose  yacht  had  been  capsized 
by  a  sudden  squall,  would  have  drowned  but  for  the 
vigilance  of  the  patrol  and  the  activity  of  the  men 
who  manned  the  life-boat,  for  the  crew  arrived  at 
the  scene  only  barely  in  time  to  save  them  from 
being  dashed  against  the  rocky  cliffs. 

It  was  as  if  every  headland  and  cove  had  its  own 
particular  story  concerning  the  perils  of  the  sea,  and 
the  two  surfmen,  bent  on  so  occupying  the  attention 
of  their  companion  that  he  should  not  note  the  pas- 
sage of  time,  gave  to  each  incident  such  details  as 
could  not  fail  of  arresting  the  lad's  attention,  until 
to  his  surprise  Sam  Hardy  said : 

"  I  reckon,  Joe,  it  's  time  for  you  to  take  the  lad 
back.  It  won't  do  to  give  him  too  much  of  a  tramp 


ON  PATROL.  59 

the  first  night.  There  's  no  need  of  spinning  all  our 
yarns,  for  he  's  like  to  be  with  us  on  many  a  tour  of 
duty." 

"  I  'm  neither  tired  nor  cold,"  Benny  said,  for 
this  cutting  short  a  most  agreeable  excursion  was 
not  to  his  liking,  although  he  made  no  protest. 

It  ain't  just  the  thing  to  drag  you  along  here 
when  there  's  no  real  need  of  it,  and  I  reckon  you  'd 
best  turn  back,  my  son.  Joe  will  take  you  in  be- 
hind the  pines,  where  you  can  give  Fluff  C.  Foster 
a  chance  to  run,  and  by  that  time  the  frost  will  have 
a  good  firm  hold  on  your  nose." 

Then  with  a  cheery"  good-night  "  Sam  continued 
on  his  lonely,  difficult  way. 

Joe  fulfilled  the  promise  made  for  him  by  his 
comrade,  and  when,  at  nearly  eight  o'clock,  they 
arrived  within  sight  of  the  station,  the  surfman 
began  shouting,  much  to  the  surprise  of  his  com- 
panion. 

"  It  's  all  right;  you  can  come  in,"  Keeper  Dow- 
ney replied  at  length,  and  Joe  Gushing  knew  that 
those  silent  forms  which  haa  been  lying  in  the  boat- 
room  were  no  longer  at  the  station. 


CHAPTER  V. 
FROM  THE  "AMAZONIA." 

Benny  was  astir  very  early  next  morning,  eager 
to  show  the  crew  of  the  station  that  he  appreciated 
to  the  utmost  their  generosity  in  thus  giving  him  a 
home,  and  when  the  men  came  down  to  breakfast 
the  cook  declared  that  the  boy  had  performed  con- 
siderably more  than  half  the  work  of  preparing  the 
meal. 

"  He  's  a  handy  lad  around  a  kitchen,  an'  I  'm 
thinkin'  we  '11  be  gettin'  the  best  of  the  bargain  in 
adoptin'  him,  providin'  he  holds  out  as  he  's  begun," 
the  cook  said  confidentially  to  Sam  Hardy,  and  the 
latter  replied  emphatically : 

"  You  mark  my  words,  cookee;  he  ain't  the  kind 
of  a  lad  who  wears  out  quickly.  I  'm  countin*  on 
his  growin'  better  every  day,  an'  before  next  winter 
we  '11  make  a  surfman  of  him." 

"  Now  don't  take  too  many  chances,  Sam.  That 
little  shaver  ain't  of  the  right  build  to  knock  around 
in  rough  water  with  the  likes  of  you,  an'  there  's  too 
much  danger  in  it  for  him." 

60 


FROM    THE   "  AMAZONIA."  6 1 

I  don't  agree  with  you  there,  cookee.  He  's 
spry  as  a  kitten,  an'  with  grit  enough  to  do  anything 
another  can." 

"  I  '11  admit  he  'd  make  a  try  for  it;  but  I  don't 
want  to  see  him  pushed  too  far." 

Benny's  entrance  put  an  end  to  the  conversation 
for  the  time  being,  and  following  him,  as  a  matter 
of  course,  was  Fluff  C.  Foster,  who  had  become 
sufficiently  well  acquainted  with  the  men  to  greet 
each  in  turn  by  sitting  up  and  barking  shrilly  as  he 
held  out  one  paw. 

Every  man  shook  hands  with  the  little  fellow, 
after  which  he  leaped  up  into  the  chair  he  had  oc- 
cupied the  day  previous. 

"  Knows  his  place  like  a  little  gentleman,"  Joe 
Gushing  cried  in  a  tone  of  admiration  as  he  stroked 
the  dog's  silken  hair,  and  Benny  said  apprehensively : 

"  I  'm  almost  afraid  Fluff  will  get  so  much  pet- 
ting that  he  '11  forget  his  good  manners.  This  very 
morning  he  acted  as  if  the  whole  station  belonged 
to  him." 

"What  did  he  do,  Benny?"  Keeper  Downey 
asked  with  a  laugh. 

"  He  was  determined  to  walk  straight  out  of 
doors,  even  though  the  big  dog  was  sitting  there 
waiting  to  teach  him  better  manners." 

"  Has  n't  he  been  out  yet  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  sir.     I  carried  him  down  by  the  shore 


62 


THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 


where  he  could  run  around  while  I  watched  the  other 
dog." 

'  We  must  introduce  him  to  Maje  after  break- 
fast," Sam  Hardy  said,  as  he  slyly  gave  Fluff  a  bit 

of  meat,  and  laughed  un- 
til the  tears  came  into  his 
eyes  as  he  watched  the  lit- 
tle fellow  trying  to  eat  it 
without  betraying  the  fact 
to  Benny.  •'  Fluff  C.  Fos- 
ter has  rights  around  this 
station  as  well  as  Maje,  an' 
they  must  be  respected." 

'  Don't     let    the    intro- 
duction   take     too     long," 
Keeper   Downey   said 
warningly.     "  It  is   beach- 
apparatus  drill  day,  and  too 
much   time    must    not   be 
wasted,  because  I  'm  count- 
ing on  getting  the  boats  out  to  have  a  look  at  what 
is  left  of  the — 

He  ceased  speaking  very  suddenly  as  his  gaze 
rested  on  Benny;  but  the  crew  understood  that  it 
was  the  keeper's  purpose  to  overhaul  such  portions 
of  the  Amazonia  as  yet  remained  upon  the  rocks, 
although  it  was  hardly  probable  anything  of  value 
would  be  found. 


FROM    THE   "AMAZONIA."  63 

After  breakfast  the  cook  would  have  excused 
Benny  from  the  task  of  washing  dishes,  so  eager 
were  the  men  to  witness  the  first  meeting  of  the 
dogs;  but  the  new  member  of  the  crew  begged  per- 
mission to  perform  his  regular  duties  before  indulg- 
ing in  what  was  very  like  play. 

Not  until  the  kitchen  was  put  in  proper  order  did 
Benny  consider  that  he  was  at  liberty  to  go  out  of 
doors,  even  though  all  the  men,  save  the  keeper 
himself,  insisted  that  there  was  no  good  reason  why 
he  should  not  take  advantage  of  the  cook's  proposi- 
tion. 

Then,  with  Fluff  under  his  arm,  he  went  out  back 
of  the  station  buildings,  where,  in  a  spot  sheltered 
from  the  wind,  the  crew  was  impatiently  awaiting 
his  arrival. 

Maje  was  present,  appearing  calmly  indifferent  to 
the  unusual  amount  of  interest  suddenly  displayed 
in  him,  but  he  pricked  up  his  ears  ominously  on 
seeing  the  white-haired  visitor. 

Do  you  think  there  's  any  danger  he  '11  hurt 
Fluff  ?  "  Benny  asked  solicitously. 

"  Don't  worry  about  that  part  of  it,"  Sam  Hardy 
replied  confidently.  "  Maje  knows  as  well  as  we  do 
that  it  's  his  duty  to  be  polite  to  strangers,  an'  if  he 
shows  signs  of  forgettin'  it,  we  '11  give  him  a  lesson 
that  won't  soon  be  forgot." 

"  Please  don't  whip  him,  for  then  he  'd  always 


04  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

remember  that  Fluff  got  him  into  trouble,  an'  never 
would  be  friendly." 

"  Let  young  Foster  down,  an*  I  '11  look  after 
Maje,"  Joe  Gushing  said  as  he  grasped  the  big  dog's 
collar. 

There  was  a  look  of  anxiety  on  Benny's  face  as 
he  gave  Fluff  his  freedom,  and  saw  the  little  fellow 
walk  directly  up  to  Maje  in  the  most  reckless 
fashion. 

The  big  dog  condescended  to  sniff  at  the  impudent 
visitor,  and  then  he  turned  his  head  away,  as  if  to 
say  that  such  small  game  was  entirely  beneath  his 
notice.  Nor  was  it  possible  to  persuade  him  into 
paying  any  further  attention  to  the  guest,  and  after 
several  fruitless  efforts  Joe  Gushing  said  with  just  a 
shade  of  disappointment  in  his  tone: 

"  Your  introduction  has  n't  turned  out  much  of 
an  affair  after  all,  Sam.  I  allowed  we  might  see 
some  sport." 

"  I  reckon  Maje  has  seen  Fluff  too  often,  for  I  've 
caught  him  looking  in  when  the  doors  were 
open.  Most  likely  he  's  made  up  his  mind  that 
young  Foster  has  come  to  stay,  an'  don't  intend 
to  pay  any  attention  to  him.  You  can  let  your 
dog  have  the  run  of  the  station  from  this  out 
Benny." 

It  did  really  seem  that  there  was  no  reason  to  fear 
Maje  might  be  tempted  to  do  mischief,  and  Benny 


FROM    THE  "  AMAZONIA."  65 

turned  to  go  into  the  building,  for  the  lamps  and 
lanterns  were  yet  to  be  trimmed. 

The  men  arose  to  attend  to  the  varied  duties  of 
the  day,  and  for  an  instant  the  attention  of  all  was 
diverted  from  the  animals. 

It  was  as  if  Maje  had  been  waiting  for  just  such 
an  opportunity.  In  a  twinkling,  and  with  an  agility 
that  one  would  hardly  have  given  him  credit  for,  he 
seized  Fluff  by  the  neck,  tossing  him  like  a  ball 
several  feet  in  the  air. 

This  done,  he  walked  away  quickly,  evidently 
knowing  what  would  be  the  result  if  he  lingered 
there  many  seconds. 

Fluff  howled  dismally  while  he  was  yet  in  the  air, 
and,  once  on  his  feet  again,  ran  to  Benny  for  pro- 
tection, grumbling  and  whimpering  as  if  making 
complaint  against  such  uncourteous  treatment. 

Sam  Hardy  and  Joe  Gushing  turned  instantly  tio 
pursue  Maje ;  but  Benny,  holding  Fluff  tightly  in 
his  arms,  begged  of  them  not  to  punish  the  big  dog. 

"  Of  course  he  's  jealous,  an'  it  '11  only  make  him 

j 

worse  if-you  whip  him.  Please  let  him  alone;  I-'m 
certain  Fluff  is  n't  hurt  any.'.'  .'.  ; 

'  He  howled  as  if  his  throat  .was  cut,"  Sam  said 
laughingly,  as  he  relinquished  the  pursuit  in  accord- 
ance with   Benny's  request,   and  Joe  Gushing  set 
about  examining  Fluff. 
."He  has  n't  got  so  much  as  a  scratch,"  was  the 


66  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

report.  "  I  reckon  the  worst  that  came  to  him  was 
a  big  scare,  an'  I  don't  wonder  at  his  bein'  a  bit 
afraid  after  such  a  rough  handling." 

"  It  '11  teach  him  to  keep  out  of  Maje's  way,  and 
perhaps  it  's  a  good  thing,  for  he  always  was  too  in- 
quisitive and  impudent,"  Benny  replied,  but  he  took 


good  care  his  pet  should  not  receive  another  lesson 
that  forenoon,  for  he  set  his  dog  in  a  chair,  sternly 
commanding  him  to  remain  there  until  further 
orders. 

The   cook  was   determined    his  assistant  should 
have  ample  opportunity   of  witnessing  the  beach- 


FROM    THE  "-AMAZONIA" 


67 


apparatus  drill,  and  as  soon  as  the  men  had  taken 
their  stations  he  insisted  upon  Benny's  going  into 
the  boat-room,  where  everything  was  in  readiness. 

The  beach-wagon  is  a  two-wheeled  vehicle  not 
unlike  a  huge  push-cart,  and  on  it  are  loaded  all  the 
implements  necessary  for  sending  out  to  a  wreck 
and  hauling  the  distressed  mariners  ashore. 


Both  the  boy  and  the  dog  appeared  to  be  deeply 
interested  when  the  wagon  was  drawn  out  on  the 
level  ground  in  the  rear  of  the  station,  where  was 
erected  an  imitation  of  a  ship's  mast.  A  short  dis- 
tance from  this  spar  the  wagon  was  brought  to  a 
standstill,  and  out  of  it  taken  a  small  cannon.  The 
crew  loaded  the  weapon  with  powder  and  a  missile 


68  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

to  which  was  attached  a  thin  line  that  had  been 
wound  on  pegs  in  a  wooden  case  known  as  a  faking- 
box,  in  such  fashion  that  it  would  unwind  without 
resistance  or  snarling. 

The  cannon  was  aimed  at  the  imitation  mast,  and 
discharged,  the  shot  carrying  the  line  directly  across 
the  top,  where  was  a  man  standing  to  represent  a 
mariner  in  distress. 

The  supposititious  shipwrecked  sailor  drew  in  on 
the  thin  line  as  if  working  for  life,  and  soon  brought 
over  the  top  a  stouter  rope,  sufficient  to  sustain  the 
weight  of  a  human  being. 

When  this  had  been  made  fast  both  on  the  spar 
and  near  the  cart,  the  man  was  drawn  down  exactly 
as  one  would  be  pulled  ashore  from  a  wreck. 

The  work  had  been  performed  exactly  as  if  human 
lives  were  really  in  danger,  and  Benny  received  his 
first  lesson  in  life-saving,  but  not  his  last,  for  he 
soon  had  ample  opportunity  of  seeing  the  crew  work 
when  it  appeared  as  if  both  they  and  those  whom 
they  sought  to  save,  would  be  swept  into  eternity  by 
the  angry  waters. 

:  After  the  apparatus  had  been  repacked  in  the 
wagon,  the  casting-line  carefully  rewound  on  the 
pegs  that  it  might  be  in  perfect  order  when  it  should 
again  be  needed,  and  orders  were  given  to  make 
ready  with  the  boat,  Benny  returned  to  the  kitchen, 
where  the  cook  was  already  at  work  preparing  dinner. 


FROM    THE   "  AMAZONIA."  69 

'  You  '11  soon  get  used  to  that  sort  of  thing,  for 
it  's  pretty  much  all  drill  out  here,  except  when  the 
weather  is  bad." 

"  I  should  think  they  'd  soon  know  it  so  well  that 


there  would  n't  be  any  need  of  doing  so  much  work," 
Benny  replied,  as  he  set  about  paring  the  potatoes. 
"  They  do,"  the  cook  said  with  a  laugh;  "  but 
just  read  these  'ere  rules  and  regulations  on  '  Drill 
and  Exercise,'  an'  you  '11  see  that  men  at  life-saving 
stations  ain't  allowed  to  spend  very  much  idle  time. 
All  that  's  set  down  there  is  to  be  gone  through  with 
every  day,  in  addition  to  patrolling  the  shore,  which, 


7O  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

as  you  have  seen  already,  ain't  child's  play.  Not 
that  I  'm  grumblin'  about  the  work,  for  it  's  well 
the  boys  are  kept  out  of  idleness;  but  this  will  show 
how  hard  they  've  got  to  work." 

The  cook  handed  Benny  a  thin,  black-covered 
book  bearing  the  title  Revised  Regulations,  and  on 
the  page  exposed  to  view  the  lad  read  the  lines 
given  below : 

"  168.  The  following  weekly  routine  of  drill,  etc., 
will  be  observed  during  the  first  month  of  the  active 
season  at  all  regularly  manned  stations  in  the  Ser- 
vice: 

"  Monday. — Practice  with  beach-apparatus  and 
overhaul  and  examine  all  apparatus  and  gear. 

"  Tuesday. — Practice  with  surf  and  life-boat. 

"  Wednesday. — Practice  with  signals. 
'  Thursday. — Practice  with  beach-apparatus. 

"  Friday. — Practice  resuscitation. 

"  Saturday. — Clean  house. 

"  After  the  first  month  the  practice  with  beach- 
apparatus  on  Monday  may  be  omitted. 

"  169.  Whenever  the  regular  practice  is  pre- 
vented by  wreck  duty,  stormy  weather,  or  high  surf, 
it  must  take  place  the  first  opportunity  thereafter. 
Whenever  practice  is  so  prevented,  the  fact  must  be 
entered  upon  the  journal,  with  full  particulars  of 
the  cause. 

'  170.     No  wilful  neglect  on  the  part  of  the  keep- 


FROM    THE  "AMAZONIA"  71 

ers  to  practice  their  crews,  as  directed  in  the  fore- 
going routine,  will  be  tolerated,  and  the  officers  of 
the  district  are  required  to  permit  none. 

"171.  By  practice  with  the  beach-apparatus  is 
meant  the  mustering  of  the  crew,  the  recital  by  each 
member  of  his  particular  duty,  and  the  rigging  of 
the  gear  over  a  distance  of  seventy-five  yards  from 
sand-anchor  to  wreck-pole,  according  to  the  method 
set  forth  in  the  beach-apparatus  drill.  Powder  must 
be  used  in  every  case,  and  the  practice,  so  far  as 
practicable,  be  precisely  the  same  as  at  a  wreck, 
using  the  apparatus  upon  the  carriage,  excepting 
the  long  whip.  If  necessary,  to  preserve  the  haw- 
ser, a  coil  of  rope  may  be  taken  to  the  practice 
ground,  and  placed  at  the  rear  of  the  carriage,  and 
used  in  its  stead.  If  a  practising  shot-line  is  used, 
it  must  be  removed  from  pins,  and  fired  from  the 
box  precisely  as  in  actual  service.  The  use  of  pow- 
der will  be  dispensed  with  when  the  supply  on  hand 
is  reduced  to  three  pounds,  at  which  time  the  dis- 
trict superintendent  or  resident  assistant  inspector 
will  be  notified. 

'  172.  Boat  practice  will  consist  in  launching  and 
landing  through  the  surf,  and  at  least  one  half-hour's 
exercise  of  the  men  in  handling  their  oars,  as  directed 
in  the  prescribed  boat-drill.  Going  off  and  landing 
through  the  surf  will  not  be  sufficient  to  enter  upon 
the  journal  as  practice. 


72  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

'  173.  Practice  of  resuscitation  will  consist  in 
each  member  of  the  crew  repeating  the  rules,  as 
hereinafter  provided,  using  the  words  of  the  book, 
and  afterwards  illustrating  them  by  manipulations 
upon  the  succeeding  member  of  the  crew.  Thus, 
the  keeper  will  work  upon  Surfman  No.  I,  No.  I 
upon  No.  2,  etc.,  and  No.  7  upon  the  keeper. 
At  the  close  of  this  exercise  the  keeper  will  open 
the  medicine-chest,  and  question  each  man  upon  the 
uses  of  the  remedies  contained  therein. 

"  174.  Practice  with  the  International  Code 
Signals  will  consist  in  questions  by  the  keeper  to 
each  member  of  the  crew  upon  the  colors  of  the 
different  flags,  the  definitions  of  the  two-,  three-, 
and  four-flag  hoists  and  the  distinguishing  flag  or 
pennant  of  each,  the  part  of  the  code-book  neces- 
sary to  turn  to  when  reading  and  when  making  a 
signal,  etc.,  and  in  actual  conversation  or  communi- 
cation by  means  of  the  miniature  signals  provided 
for  each  station. 

"  175.  In  fine  weather  signals  and  books  may  be 
borrowed  for  one  day  from  the  adjacent  station,  and 
by  erecting  a  temporary  pole,  the  crew  practised  in 
the  use  of  flags,  which  will  fix  the  method  of  their 
use  in  the  mind  more  effectively  than  any  other 
practice. 

"  176.  No  departure  from  the  prescribed  drill  for 
the  use  of  the  beach-apparatus  in  any  of  its  details 


FROM    THE   "AMAZONIA."  73 

will  be  made  by  district  superintendents  or  other 
officers  without  the  sanction  of  the  General  Super- 
intendent, previously  obtained." 

Benny  read  all  this  carefully,  as  if  trying  to  fix 
the  whole  upon  his  memory,  and  then  asked : 

What  is  the  '  active  season  '  ?  " 
'  That  's  when  we  begin  work  in  the  fall.  You 
must  know  that  all  the  crew  don't  stay  here  during 
the  summer.  The  active  season  is  from  September 
1st  to  May  1st;  but  the  keeper  holds  on  the  year 
round." 

"Are  you  a  surf  man  ?"  Benny  asked  after  a 
pause. 

"  No,  my  son,  I  'm  only  the  cook,  and  hired  by 
the  men,  instead  of  the  Government,  so  you  see  I 
don't  come  in  for  all  these  long  hours.  My  work  is 
no  harder  in  stormy  weather,  while  then  it  is  that 
every  other  man  is  on  duty  all  the  time.  I  have 
seen  this  same  crew  worked  forty  hours  on  a  stretch, 
wet  to  the  skin  and  half  frozen,  with  never  a  single 
word  of  complaint.  They  are  just  putting  off  in  the 
surf-boat,  and  I  reckon  it  would  be  worth  your  while 
to  watch  them,  Benny.  We  've  got  the  dinner  so 
far  along  that  there  's  nothing  to  be  done  for  a  spell, 
so  you  and  Fluff  C.  Foster  had  best  stay  out  in  the 
open  air  while  you  can." 

The  lad  had  a  strong  desire  to  see  the  crew  afloat, 
otherwise  he  might  not  have  taken  advantage  of  the 


74 


THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 


permission   while  there  was  any  work  to  be  per- 
formed. 

Fluff  had  remained  in  the  chair  like  an  obedient 
dog  that  he  could  be  when  so  disposed  ;  but  he  came 
down  after  the  fashion  of  an  exceedingly  small  and 


very  white  whirlwind  at  the  first   word    from  his 
master. 

"  Be  careful  that  old  Maje  ain't  layin*  anywhere 
outside  on  the  watch,"  the  cook  cried;  but  Benny 
believed  there  was  no  necessity  for  him  to  be  over- 
cautious regarding  the  safety  of  his  pet.  Fluff's 
experience  with  the  big  dog  had  been  such  that  he 


FROM    THE  "AMAZONIA."  75 

did  not  intend  giving  Maje  another  opportunity  of 
playing  ball  with  him;  he  marched  sedately  and 
very  close  at  Benny's  heels  from  the  station,  down 
to  that  point  on  the  shore  overlooking  the  reef  on 
which  the  Amazonia  had  gone  to  pieces. 

It  was  the  first  time  the  lad  had  seen  the  wreck  of 
the  ship  which  served  him  as  a  home  during  so  many 
months,  because  every  member  of  the  crew  had 
taken  especial  care  to  prevent  his  wandering  in  that 
direction. 

On  this  morning  the  men  most  likely  believed 
Benny  would  be  employed  in  the  kitchen,  and,  per- 
haps, expected  the  cook  would  prevent  him  from 
going  out  on  the  shore ;  but  if  the  latter  had  thought 
of  the  matter  at  all,  it  was  probably  with  the  idea 
that  the  boy  must  at  some  time  see  the  small  portion 
of  the  ship  which  remained  on  the  rocks,  and  as  well 
then  as  at  any  other. 

At  all  events,  he  allowed  his  assistant  to  go  out  as 
has  been  seen,  and  instantly  Benny  came  in  view  of 
these  vestiges  of  disaster  all  the  sorrow  of  the  past 
came  over  him  like  a  flood,  drowning  for  the  time 
being  every  other  thought  save  of  that  night,  when 
he  alone  out  of  all  the  ship's  company  came  safely 
to  land. 

Seated  upon  the  rocks  he  buried  his  face  in  Fluff's 
silken  hair,  and  gave  way  once  more  to  his  grief. 
Then,  the  outburst  of  tears  having  in  a  measure 


76  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

soothed  him,  he  looked  out  upon  the  frowning  reef 
whereon  the  Amazonia  ended  her  cruise. 

The  forward  portion  of  the  dismembered  hull, 
with  the  foremast  still  standing,  and  a  few  timbers 
of  the  after  portion,  was  all  that  remained  to  tell  of 
the  stately  vessel  which  had  plowed  her  way  through 
so  many  oceans  only  to  meet  with  disaster  when 
virtually  within  sight  of  the  home  port. 

"  It  won't  do  for  us  to  be  crying  all  the  time, 
Fluff,  else  the  crew  will  get  tired,  and  think  perhaps 
we  'd  better  find  some  other  job;  but  we  shall  keep 
on  feeling  sorry  just  so  long  as  we  live  because  the 
captain  and  Mrs.  Clark  didn't  come  ashore  with  us. ' ' 

It  was  his  own  words  which  reminded  Benny  of 
the  fact  that  the  bodies  of  those  who  had  been 
drowned  would,  in  the  ordinary  course  of  events,  be 
washed  ashore,  and  at  the  very  moment  this  came 
into  his  mind  he  saw  the  life-saving  crew  taking 
from  the  wreckage  what  was  unquestionably  a 
human  body. 

"  Oh,  Fluff,  Fluff,  it  may  be  our  captain  that 
they  have  found !  We  can't  stay  here  and  see  them 
bring  him  ashore!  " 

Hugging  the  dog  so  tightly  that  the  little  fellow 
uttered  a  low  cry  of  protest,  Benny  ran  back  to  the 
station,  and  there  it  was  necessary  to  explain  to  the 
cook  why  his  eyes  were  red  and  swollen  from  weep- 
ing. 


FROM    THE  "  AMAZONIA."  77 

"  No,  my  son,  it  's  not  the  captain's  body  they 
have  found,  for  that  was  carried  into  the  city  last 
night,  together  with  the  remains  of  his  wife  and 
some  of  the  sailors.  You  were  sent  out  on  patrol 
with  Sam  Hardy  and  Joe  Gushing  so  you  should  n't 
see  what  was  being  done;  but  it  had  to  be  known, 
and  now  it  is  as  good  a  time  as  any  other  for  you  to 
be  told." 

Benny  tried  unsuccessfully  to  check  his  tears,  and 
the  cook,  observing  the  struggle,  said  in  a  kindly 
tone: 

'  Look  here,  lad;  you  've  had  in  your  short  life 
a  good  bit  of  sadness,  an'  it  ain't  to  be  wondered  at 
that  this  last  blow  comes  mighty  tough.  Now  take 
my  advice,  and  have  a  solid  cry.  Go  back  into  the 
thicket,  for  there  's  no  need  of  your  seein'  what  the 
crew  will  bring  ashore,  if  it  so  be  you  were  not  mis- 
taken about  what  was  taken  from  the  wreck.  Go 
back  into  the  thicket  with  the  dog,  and  stay  there 
till  I  call  you. for  dinner.  It  '11  help  you  out,  and 
prevent  some  ugly  sights." 

Benny  hesitated.  This  running  away  from  work 
in  order  to  spare  himself  additional  sorrow  was  not 
to  his  mind  manly,  and  he  feared  lest  those  who  had 
constituted  themselves  his  guardians  might  censure 
him  for  so  doing. 

I   can't  help   feeling  bad;  but  that  ain't  any 
reason  why  I  should  n't  stay  where  I  belong,  for  no 


?8  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

matter  how  much  work  I  do,  it  won't  be  possible  to 
pay  Fluff's  board  and  mine.  I  think  perhaps  I  ought 
to  hold  on  right  here." 

"  Do  as  I  tell  you,  my  boy.  I  '11  explain  to  the 
men  when  they  come  in,  and  you  may  be  certain 
that  the  keeper  himself  would  give  the  same  advice 
in  the  form  of  an  order,  if  he  was  ashore.  There  's 
no  reason  to  take  more  bitter  things  in  this  life  than 
is  necessary ;  so  be  off  with  you,  and  I  '11  answer  for 
it  that  Fluff  C.  Foster  won't  object  to  a  tramp 
through  the  woods." 

Benny  could  do  no  less  than  act  upon  this  sugges- 
tion, which  was  at  the  same  time  a  command,  and 
with  Fluff  under  his  arm  he  set  off,  not  daring  to 
turn  his  head  seaward  lest  he  should  see  the  crew 
engaged  in  their  gruesome  work. 

Once  within  the  shelter  of  the  pine  trees,  where 
patches  of  brown  moss  could  be  seen  here  and  there, 
much  to  the  delight  of  Fluff,  Benny  gave  way  to 
his  gloomy  thoughts  until  the  antics  of  the  dog, 
overjoyed  at  having  this  opportunity  for  a  scamper 
after  so  many  months  of  life  on  shipboard,  aroused 
him  from  his  mournful  revery. 

Then,  and  he  blamed  himself  most  severely  for 
finding  it  possible  to  do  other  than  mourn  at  such  a 
time,  he  yielded  to  the  dog's  mute  entreaties,  and 
the  two  ran  here  and  there  under  the  trees,  the  low 
moaning  of  the  murderous  surf  alone  breaking  the, 


FROM    THE  "  AMAZONIA"  79 

silence,  until  the  cook's  cries  told  that  the  noon-day 
meal  was  ready. 

When  Benny  answered  the  summons  the  boat- 
room  door  was  closed,  and  he  believed  this  had 
been  done  to  shut  out  from  view  those  forms  which 
had  come  ashore  from  the  Amazonia. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

ROUTINE   DUTY. 

During  the  three  days  which  elapsed  after  the 
crew  began  work  on  the  wreck  Benny  found  suffi- 
cient with  which  to  occupy  his  time. 

From  early  morning  until  after  dinner  he  was 
engaged  in  the  kitchen,  or  in  setting  to  rights  the 
different  apartments  of  the  station,  and  the  result  of 
his  work  was  soon  apparent.  Never  before  during 
the  active  season  had  the  interior  of  the  building 
been  so  cleanly,  and  the  men  were  delighted  with 
the  agreeable  change. 

"  You  're  what  might  be  called  an  A  I  house- 
keeper, Benjamin,"  Tom  Downey  said  one  day  as 
he  returned  to  the  station  unexpectedly  and  found 
the  lad  washing  the  floor  of  the  sleeping  room. 
"  All  hands  of  us  turn  to  and  clean  up  once  a  week, 
according  to  the  rules  and  regulations,  but  somehow 
we  don't  get  it  as  neat  as  you  do,  and  it  's  littered 
up  in  great  shape  forty-eight  hours  later.  Now, 
everything  is  bright  and  clean  as  a  new  pin,  and  I 

80 


ROUTINE  DUTY.  8 1 

reckon  we  're  gettin'  the  best  of  this  guardianship 
business." 

"  I  'm  glad  if  you  think  I  'm  paying  our  board, 
sir,"  Benny  replied,  pleased  because  of  the  praise 
bestowed  upon  him. 

'  You  're  doing  more  than  that,  my  lad,  an'  we 
must  hit  upon  some  plan  of  squaring  matters.  A 
lad  who  takes  it  upon  himself  to  see  that  our  outside 
clothing  is  properly  dried  after  we  come  in  from  a 
day's  work  is  worth  considerably  more  than  what 
he  and  an  imitation  dog  can  eat,  to  say  nothing  of 
the  other  duties  you  have  assumed." 

"  If  you  '11  be  as  pleased  to  have  me  here  as  I  am 
to  stay,  it  '11  be  a  big  thing  for  Fluff  an'  me,  sir."  f. 
I  allow  matters  are  about  in  that  shape  already, 
and  we  '11  see  if  something  in  the  way  of  an  allow- 
ance can't  be  made  for  the  extra  work  you  're 
doing." 

"  Do  you  mean  that  you  '11  pay  me  money,  sir  ?  " 

'  That  's  what  the  boys  are  talking  about.     You 

see  we  count  on  your  going  to  school  next  season, 

and  you  must  have  a  nest-egg  before  then,  in  order 

to  pay  your  way." 

"  I  'd  rather  it  should  n't  be  done,  sir,"  Benny 
replied  gravely.  "  It  's  mighty  good  of  you  to  say 
I  'm  helpin'  along;  but  I  'm  sure  this  kind  of  work 
is  n't  worth  more  than  our  board.  If  the  men 
would  be  willing  to  teach  me  the  rules  of  the  ser- 

6 


82  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

vice,  and  let  me  join  in  the  drill  sometimes,  I  'd  be 
glad." 

'  What  's  your  idea  in  doing  that,  Benjamin  ?  " 

"  If  I  knew  how  to  handle  a  boat  in  the  surf,  and 
could  go  through  the  drill,  perhaps  I  might  get  a 
job  as  a  surf  man." 

Tom  Downey  laughed  loudly,  until  noting  the 
red  flush  which  crept  over  the  lad's  face,  when  he 
checked  his  mirth  suddenly,  as  he  said  seriously: 

'  You  're  not  much  bigger  than  a  peanut,  Benny, 
and  I  'm  afraid  you  would  n't  cut  any  figger  in  a 
boat." 

"  But  I  'm  bound  to  grow,  sir.  Of  course  I 
could  n't  do  anything  of  the  kind  now,  but  after  a 
spell  perhaps  I  '11  be  big  enough." 

"  Why  do  you  want  to  get  into  the  service,  lad  ? 
Every  member  of  a  crew  takes  his  life  in  his  hand 
when  there  's  work  to  be  done,  and  you  've  already 
had  a  chance  to  see  that  the  duties  are  not  only 
dangerous,  but  severe." 

'  Yes,  sir;  but  whenever  you  save  a  man  from 
drowning  it  must  make  you  feel  mighty  good,  and 
that  squares  up  for  all  the  hard  work.  I  'd  rather 
be  a  regular  member  of  the  crew  than  anything 
else." 

"  That  comes  of  your  having  been  thrown  among 
us;  but  once  you  go  out  into  the  world  you  '11  have 
different  ideas." 


ROUTINE  DUTY.  83 

"  I  've  seen  quite  a  bit  of  it  already,  sir,  and  never 
thought  so  much  of  what  I  might  be  able  to  do," 
Benny  replied  meekly. 

"  I  '11  admit,  lad,  that  you  've  knocked  around 
considerable  for  one  of  your  age — seen  more  of  the 
world  than  any  of  us ;  but — I  '11  tell  you  what  it  is, 
Benny,  you  shall  learn  the  drill,  and  when  spring 
comes  we  '11  show  you  how  to  handle  a  boat,  al- 
though I  'm  not  certain  any  of  the  crew  would  agree 
to  your  entering  this  branch  of  the  service." 

The  conversation  came  to  an  end  at  this  point  for 
the  time  being,  so  far  as  Benny  was  concerned ;  but 
when  Tom  Downey  had  an  opportunity  of  speaking 
privately  with  the  crew,  he  repeated  all  that  had 
been  said,  treating  the  matter  as  if  it  gave  him  no 
slight  degree  of  pleasure  because  the  lad  was  inclined 
to  enter  the  service. 

"  I  '11  answer  for  it  he  shall  know  how  to  handle  a 
surf-boat  'twixt  now  and  next  summer,"  Sam  Hardy 
said  decidedly.  "  That  boy  has  got  sand,  an'  a 
good  deal  of  it,  else  he  'd  never  worked  in  as  he  has 
here." 

"  If  his  mind  is  set  on  such  a  life,  I  'm  another  as 
will  help  the  little  whifflet  along,"  Joe  Gushing 
added  with  a  laugh,  and  although  no  lengthy  dis- 
cussion was  indulged  in  at  the  time,  all  the  crew 
appeared  to  consider  it  as  settled  that  Benny  should 
be  instructed  in  the  duties  of  life-saving. 


84  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  the  boy  worked 
every  moment  of  daylight.  After  the  dishes  used 
at  dinner  had  been  washed,  the  cook  insisted  that 
he  go  out  of  doors  with  Fluff,  and  the  pine  grove 
was  his  favorite  playground.  Here,  despite  the  cold 
weather,  he  roamed  to  and  fro  while  the  dog  chased 
imaginary  squirrels  and  his  own  shadow,  until  the 
frosty  air  drove  both  inside  the  station  again. 

It  was  while  he  was  enjoying  his  "  outing  "  that 
the  bodies  lately  recovered  from  the  Amazonia  were 
removed  by  the  coroner,  and  Benny  asked  no  ques- 
tions concerning  them.  There  was  in  his  mind  the 
fear  that  by  speaking  of  the  wreck,  when  it  would 
be  impossible  to  control  his  sorrow,  he  might  dis- 
please those  who  were  so  kind,  and  all  this  he  kept 
a  secret  from  every  one  save  Fluff. 

When  he  was  alone  with  the  dog,  however,  and 
the  moaning  and  roaring  of  the  surf  told  of  what 
had  been  done  on  that  forbidding  coast,  he  poured 
out  all  his  heart  to  Fluff,  and  those  who  had  gone 
into  the  Unknown  from  the  decks  of  the  Amazonia 
had  at  least  one  sincere  mourner. 

Each  evening  Benny  accompanied  one  or  the  other 
of  the  men  on  patrol  duty,  and  appeared  to  take  the 
liveliest  interest  at  all  times  in  watching  for  signs  of 
some  craft  in  distress.  At  every  convenient  oppor- 
tunity during  the  day  he  visited  the  lookout  on  the 
bluff,  and  when  not  otherwise  engaged  pored  over 


ROUTINE  DUTY.  85 

the  regulations  of  the  service  until,  as  Joe  Gushing 
said,  he  believed  the  lad  "  could  come  near  to  re- 
peating every  word  in  the  book." 

During  three  days  of  pleasant  weather  the  crew 
brought  on  shore  the  little  which  could  be  saved 
from  what  remained  of  the  Amazonia,  and  the  men 
had  settled  down  to  a  round  of  routine  duty. 

It  was  Sam  Hardy's  turn  to  begin  the  patrol  work 
of  the  night,  and,  much  to  Benny's  satisfaction,  he 
called  upon  the  lad  to  accompany  him. 

"I  'm  thinkin'  it  will  be  your  last  chance  for 
some  time,  according  to  the  indications,  and  I  '11 
set  myself  down  as  a  Dutchman  if  we  don't  have  a 
blow  'twixt  now  and  mornin'  that  will  go  ahead  of 
anything  you  ever  saw  on  this  coast." 

Now  that  Fluff  C.  Foster  was  well  acquainted  with 
the  members  of  the  crew,  Benny  did  not  consider  it 
necessary  to  carry  his  pet  whenever  he  went  out, 
therefore  the  dog  was  left  behind,  and,  well  wrapped 
in  thick  clothing,  Benny  set  off,  having  received  the 
assurance  from  Sam  that  he  would  be  allowed  to 
share  in  the  entire  four  hours  of  duty. 

The  wind  had  increased  in  force  until  it  was  diffi- 
cult to  make  one's  way  over  the  bold  headlands 
through  the  snow,  and  more  than  once  did  Sam 
Hardy  find  it  necessary  to  seek  a  shelter  while  he 
rested  from  the  severe  labor. 

An  unusually  vigilant  watch  was  kept  over  the 


86  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

broad  expanse  of  waters,  for  this  was  a  time  when 
the  life  savers  along  the  coast  knew  their  services 
would  most  likely  be  needed.  There  would  prob- 
ably be  some  vessels,  through  carelessness,  ignor- 
ance, or  mishap,  in  distress,  and  whatever  of  peril 
might  await  them,  the  men  of  the  service  must  be 
prepared  to  put  off  in  their  boats  for  a  battle  with 
the  raging  waters. 

'  This  wind  is  gettin'  into  shape  for  a  regular 
tearer, "  Sam  said  when  the  two,  partially  sheltered 
by  the  rocks,  stood  peering  out  over  the  heaving 
waters.  '  Them  as  are  outside  to-morrow  morning 
will  do  well  to  see  that  they  have  plenty  of  sea- 
room." 

Already  had  the  first  particles  of  snow  begun  to 
fall,  and  the  air  was  rapidly  growing  colder. 

"  It  ain't  often  we  have  two  big  storms  so  near 
together;  but  it  's  coming  this  time,  an'  I  'm  mis- 
taken if  we  don't  have  plenty  of  work  before  the  sun 
sets  to-morrow." 

"  It  does  n't  seem  possible  you  could  see  very  far 
after  it  begins  to  snow." 

"  We  can't,  lad,  an'  that  's  a  fact;  but  I  allow 
our  eyes  do  better  service  than  those  that  have  n't 
been  trained  to  the  work.  There  's  Dick  Sawyer, 
for  instance,  he  's  by  far  the  best  man  among  us  in 
this  kind  of  work.  I  've  been  with  him  when  it 
seemed  as  if  he  smelled  a  vessel,  for  he  's  struck  his 


ROUTINE  DUTY.  8/ 

signal  when  I  could  n't  see  six  inches  before  my 
nose,  an'  I  never  knew  him  to  go  wrong.  But  we 
can't  loaf  here  much  longer  if  we  count  on  covering 
our  beat  in  the  regulation  time." 

It  was  as  if  the  storm  had  begun  without  warning. 
The  first  particles  had  no  more  than  fallen  when  the 
air  seemed  thick  with  swirling  wreaths  that  struck 
the  skin  like  needle-points,  and  were  forced  by  the 
increasing  wind  through  every  aperture  in  one's 
clothing. 

Benny  found  it  necessary  to  shield  his  eyes,  be- 
cause of  the  pain  caused  by  the  icy  particles,  and 
could  give  little  heed  to  his  footsteps,  but  followed 
directly  behind  his  companion. 

Sam,  on  the  contrary,  appeared  to  suffer  no 
especial  inconvenience  ;  he  kept  constant  watch 
over  the  sea,  although  at  times  it  was  necessary  to 
cover  his  eyes,  and  breasted  his  way  against  the  wind 
as  if  finding  real  pleasure  in  the  struggle. 

"  I  'm  sorry  you  came  to-night,  lad,"  he  said 
when  they  paused  for  an  instant.  "  My  idea  was 
that  this  flurry  would  hold  off  till  past  midnight,  or 
you  would  n't  have  had  a  chance  to  show  your 
nose  outside  the  station." 

"  I  'd  been  sorry  if  you  had  n't  let  me  come, 
'cause  I  '11  never  make  any  fist  at  being  a  surfman 
by  staying  under  cover  all  the  time." 

"  It  ain't  my  plan  to  coddle  you  up,  Benjamin; 


88  THE  LIFE   SAVERS, 

but  at  the  same  time  there  's  no  good  reason  why 
you  should  get  it  quite  so  tough  at  the  start.  You 
won't  learn  much — 

Sam  paused  as,  sheltering  his  eyes,  he  gazed 
steadily  seaward,  and  Benny  tried  in  vain  to  discover 
what  had  thus  attracted  his  companion's  attention. 

During  fully  a  minute  the  surfman  stood  immov- 
able as  a  statue,  regardless  of  the  howling  wind  and 
stinging  snow,  and  then  muttered  half  to  himself,  as 
he  drew  from  his  pocket  one  of  the  Coston  signals : 
'  The  work  has  begun  sooner  than  I  counted  on." 
'  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  Benny  asked  anxiously. 
'  There  's  a  three-masted  schooner  less  than  a 
mile  away,  I  should  say,  and  doing  her  best  to  crawl 
off  from  the  land." 

Benny  strained  his  eyes  to  pierce  the  fleecy  cloud 
which  enveloped  him  ;  but  nothing  save  the  swirling 
wreaths  could  be  distinguished. 

"  I  can't  make  out  anything,"  he  exclaimed  in  a 
tone  of  regret. 

"  And  it  ain't  to  be  wondered  at,  lad.  Wait 
until  you  've  been  on  patrol  duty  a  dozen  nights 
like  this,  and  you  '11  find  it  a  different  matter.  I 
can  see  the  schooner  now  an'  then,  an'  allow  she  's 
got  a  fore-staysail,  reefed  foresail,  and  spanker  set; 
but  don't  seem  to  be  crawling  off  very  fast.  We  '11 
let  her  know  that  the  crew  at  this  station  ain't 
asleep. 


ROUTINE  DUTY.  89 

While  speaking  he  had  inserted  the  signal  in  its 
wooden  handle,  and  as  he  concluded,  struck  it 
sharply  against  a  rock. 

There  was  a  crackling  and  spitting  of  fire  for  an 
instant,  after  which  the  light  burned  out  with  ap- 
parently almost  as  much  brilliancy  as  that  displayed 
from  the  lighthouse  a  short  distance  away,  and  the 
glare  literally  blinded  Benny. 

When  it  died  away  the  night  seemed  yet  darker 
than  before,  and  the  lad  peered  straight  ahead  in 
the  direction  pointed  out  by  Sam  until  he  fancied 
he  saw  a  tiny  flare  appear  and  disappear  at  brief 
intervals. 

"  They  have  seen  us,"  Sam  said  in  a  tone  of  sat- 
isfaction. '  That  wisp  of  flame  was  their  answer, 
and  I  allow  by  its  having  been  given  so  quickly  that 
all  hands  understand  they  'd  better  have  headed  for 
deep  water  sooner.  Word  must  be  taken  to  the 
station,  and  I  'm  doubtful  about  leavin'  here.  I 
wonder  could  you  find  your  way  back,  Benny  ?  " 

"  Of  course  I  could,  and  I  '11  be  mighty  glad  of 
the  chance  to  try.  What  shall  I  tell  the  keeper  ?  " 

"  I  am  not  so  certain  that  I  've  got  any  right  to 
let  you  take  the  chances,  for  in  this  storm  a  lad  who 
is  green  at  the  business  can  easily  get  bewildered." 

"  /shan't,"  Benny  replied  quickly.  '  Please  let 
me  go,  Mr.  Hardy,  for  it  '11  show  that  I  can  be  of 
some  little  help  in  the  work,  and  perhaps  the  men 


QO  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

will  think  I  may  be  a  surfman  in  time,  even  if  I  am 
small." 

'  You  shall  make  the  venture,  my  boy.  Do  you 
hear  that  whistle  now  and  then  ?  " 

"  I  have  been  hearing  it  for  some  time,  sir. 
There  must  be  a  steamer  nearby." 

'  Why,  bless  your  soul,  Benny,  have  n't  you 
found  out  by  this  time  that  there  's  a  steam  fog- 
horn near  the  lighthouse  I  counted  on  their  set- 
ting it  going  when  this  smother  first  gave  signs  of 
coming." 

Benny  remembered  now  that  the  cook  had  pointed 
out  to  him  a  small  brick  building  painted  white, 
which  had  at  one  side  a  curiously  shaped  funnel, 
and  told  him  this  last  was  the  fog-horn ;  but  other 
matters  were  occupying  his  mind  at  the  time,  and 
he  gave  little  heed  to  the  information. 

'  Keep  straight  on  after  that  sound,"  Sam  said 
as  he  saw  to  it  that  Benny's  coat  was  closely  but- 
toned. '  Don't  try  to  travel  too  fast,  for  there  's 
plenty  of  time.  Even  if  that  craft  comes  to  grief, 
she  won't  strike  inside  of  an  hour.  When  you  get 
to  the  station  there  's  nothing  to  be  done  save  tell 
the  keeper  what  we  Ve  seen,  and  that  the  schooner 
lays  off  Skinner's  Point." 

"  Shall  I  come  back,  sir  ?  " 

"  Come  back  through  this  storm,  Benny  ?  Why, 
you  're  crazy!  There  's  such  a  thing  as  learning  a 


ROUTINE  DUTY.  91 

surfman's  duties;  but  attempting  to  find  me  out 
here  in  this  swirl  ain't  one  of  'em.  Even  if  I  was 
fool  enough  to  say  you  might  try  it,  the  rest  of  the 
crew  would  take  good  care  you  did  n't  get  outside 
the  station  again.  Now  be  off,  lad,  and  keep  your 


wits  well  about  you.  Remember  that  you  '11  bring 
up  nearabout  the  building  if  you  follow  the  sound 
of  the  whistle." 

Benny  was  proud  indeed  as  he  began  what  unques- 
tionably was,  for  a  person  unfamiliar  with  the  local- 
ity, a  perilous  journey. 

There  was  in  his  mind  the  knowledge  that  he  was 


92  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

taking  some  slight  part  in  the  work  of  life-saving, 
and  that  by  his  making  this  venture  Sam  Hardy 
could  remain  on  duty  where  he  might  possibly  be 
of  great  assistance  to  those  who  were  in  danger. 

To  push  on  alone  over  the  rocks,  through  drifts  of 
snow,  beaten  and  buffeted  by  the  wind,  and  half 
blinded  by  the  icy  particles,  was  entirely  different 
from  following  behind  Sam.  Previously  he  had  been 
partially  sheltered  by  the  surfman's  body;  but  now 
it  was  necessary  to  breast  the  storm  alone,  and  there 
were  many  times  when  he  found  it  literally  impos- 
sible to  proceed,  for  the  wind  came  in  spiteful  gusts 
that  nearly  threw  him  from  his  feet. 

Many  times  did  he  unconsciously  turn  aside  from 
the  direct  course,  and  when  the  whistle  sounded 
again  he  was  forced  to  make  a  detour  in  this  direc- 
tion or  that,  at  the  cost  of  many  additional  steps. 
Then  again  it  was  as  if  the  heavy  booming  came 
from  all  sides,  and  save  for  the  fact  that  he  remained 
motionless  until  the  force  of  the  wind  lessened,  he 
might  have  lost  his  way  completely. 

Although  the  air  was  bitterly  cold  Benny  was 
hardly  aware  of  the  fact ;  the  severe  labor  of  making 
his  way  through  the  drifts  and  against  the  blasts 
warmed  his  body  until  he  perspired  even  at  the 
same  time  that  his  hands  and  face  were  chilled  by 
the  frost. 

When  he  came  upon  the  light  of  the  station,  sud- 


ROUTINE  DUTY.  93 

denly,  as  it  were,  it  appeared  to  him  as  if  a  full  hour 
must  have  been  spent  in  the  journey,  and  now  that 
the  task  was  accomplished  it  seemed  impossible  he 
could  have  continued  on  five  minutes  longer. 

There  was  no  need  for  him  to  explain  why  he  had 
returned  alone.  The  waiting  crew,  fearing  news  of 
disaster,  understood  at  once  that  Sam  Hardy  would 
not  have  sent  the  boy  back  unless  he  had  grave 
reasons  for  doing  so,  and  before  Benny  could  speak 
Dick  Sawyer  cried : 

What  have  you  seen,  lad  ?  " 

Benny  understood  that  his  report  should  be  made 
to  the  keeper,  and,  therefore,  instead  of  answering 
Sawyer's  question,  he  turned  to  Mr.  Downey,  de- 
scribing what  Hardy  had  seen. 

Off  Skinner's  Point,  eh  ?  "  Downey  said  as  he 
took  from  the  pegs  where  it  was  hanging,  his  suit  of 
oiled  clothing.  '  How  far  away  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Hardy  said  about  a  mile;  but  I  did  n't  see 
any  sign  of  a  vessel,  except  when  the  little  light 
showed  itself." 

'  You  '11  need  to  go  on  patrol  more  than  once, 
lad,"  Joe  Gushing  said  with  a  laugh,  "  before  you  '11 
make  much  of  a  fist  at  seeing  a  craft  a  mile  away  on 
such  a  night  as  this." 

"  I  '11  get  so  I  can  in  time,  if  you  allow  me  to  go 
out  on  patrol,"  Benny  replied  confidently,  and  then, 
turning  to  the  keeper,  he  added,  "  Mr.  Hardy  said 


94  THE  LIFE  SAVERS. 

I  was  n't  to  come  back;  but  if  there  's  any  message 
you  'd  like  sent  him,  sir,  I  'm  certain  I  can  carry  it." 

'  Would  you  be  willing  to  go  through  this  storm 
from  here  to  Skinner's  Point  when  there  was  no 
real  need  of  it  ?  " 

"If  there  was  a  chance  I  might  be  of  service, 
I  'd  be  glad  to,  sir,  and,  besides,  such  work  as  that 
would  be  helping  me  along  in  learning  a  surfman's 
duties." 

It  seems  a  cruel  thing  to  do,"  Downey  said  half 
to  himself;  "  but  I  've  a  mind  to  let  you  go  with 
us." 

'  If  you  only  would,  sir!  " 

'  What  about  leavin'  Fluff  C.  Foster  alone  ?  All 
hands  of  us,  except  the  cook,  must  go." 

Fluff  will  behave  himself,  I  'm  certain,  for  he 
does  n't  make  any  trouble  when  I  tell  him  he  must 
stay  alone." 

'  Thaw  yourself  a  bit  by  the  fire  while  we  're 
getting  the  beach-wagon  out,  and  then  you  shall  do 
your  share  of  the  work,  unless  it  so  chances  we  're 
forced  to  launch  the  boat." 

During  this  time  every  member  of  the  crew  had 
been  preparing  for  the  arduous  labor  before  him, 
and  the  men  were  in  readiness  when  Keeper  Downey 
led  the  way  toward  the  door. 

Benny  had  no  idea  of  spending  valuable  time  in 
front  of  the  fire.  He  delayed  only  an  instant  to  pet 


ROUTINE  DUTY.  95 

Fluff,  and  whisper  in  the  dog's  ear  that  it  was  nec- 
essary he  remain  inside  the  building  quietly. 

'  You  see  I  'm  going  to  take  my  first  lesson  as  a 
surfman,  Fluffy,  and  it  's  as  much  to  your  interest 
as  mine  that  I  do  it,  because  we  've  got  to  pay  our 
way  somehow,  and  it  can't  always  be  done  by 
washing  dishes  and  clearing  up  the  house.  Now  be 
a  good  dog,  and  don't  go  outside,  for  you  'd  surely 
get  lost  in  the  snow." 

Then  Benny  replenished  the  fire,  throwing  on 
sufficient  coal  to  keep  it  glowing  several  hours  at 
least,  and,  closing  the  door  behind  him  lest  Fluff 
should  be  tempted  to  disobey  his  command,  joined 
the  men  at  the  door  of  the  boat-room. 

Four  of  the  crew  were  putting  the  drag-ropes  over 
their  shoulders;  Joe  Gushing  and  Keeper  Downey 
were  at  the  handles,  although  had  the  full  crew  been 
present  Sam  would  have  occupied  the  position  which 
was  now  filled  by  the  keeper,  and  the  latter's  station 
would  have  been  at  the  rear  of  the  cart. 

'  You  shall  take  my  place,  Benny,  which  is  be- 
hind. Don't  exert  yourself  to  push  too  strongly; 
but  you  may  pull  back  the  best  you  know  how  when 
we  are  going  downhill." 

"  There  '11  be  little  holding  back  needed  through 
this  snow,"  Joe  said  with  a  cheery  laugh,  such  as 
he  might  have  indulged  in  had  they  been  setting 
out  on  some  pleasure  excursion. 


96 


THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 


Benny  had  studied  a  diagram  in  the  Revised 
Regulations,  showing  how  the  beach-wagon  should 
be  manned,  as  given  below,  therefore  knew  exactly 
what  were  his  duties. 


Captain- 


He  heeded  not  the  excessive  labor  which  was  be- 
fore them  in  dragging  the  cart  more  than  half  a  mile 
over  the  rocks  and  through  the  snow-drifts,  because 
of  the  proud  satisfaction  which  was  his  in  thus  being 
allowed  to  share  the  duties  of  the  men. 

The  crew  set  off  at  a  slow  pace.  It  was  reason- 
able to  suppose,  however  imminent  the  danger  which 
threatened  the  schooner,  that  some  considerable 
time  must  elapse  before  they  could  begin  the  work  of 
life-saving,  and  it  was  necessary  to  husband  their 
strength  because  of  the  difficult  and  protracted  task 
before  them. 

Benny  asked  himself,  even  as  they  started,  how  it 
would  be  possible  to  drag  the  heavy  wagon  over  the 
course  traversed  by  the  patrol,  for  he  knew  that  in 
many  places  they  would  be  forced  to  clamber  up 
cliff-like  masses  of  rocks,  and  again  drag  the  wagon 


ROUTINE  DUTY.  97 

through  the  drifts  of  snow  that  under  other  circum- 
stances would  seem  impassable. 

The  crew,  however,  appeared  to  give  no  heed  to 
the  difficulties  in  the  way;  but  set  out  on  this  jour- 
ney which,  fatiguing  as  it  must  be,  was  but  the 
beginning  of  their  night  of  work. 

7 


CHAPTER  VII. 

SAVING   LIFE. 

The  men  pressed  forward,  dragging  the  heavy 
load  steadily,  but  at  moderate  speed. 

Keeper  Downey  was  too  good  a  captain  to  urge 
his  crew  to  their  utmost  efforts  at  the  beginning  of 
the  journey,  lest  he  exhaust  them  before  the  task 
was  accomplished.  He  also  knew  that  their  services 
were  not  needed  immediately,  otherwise  Sam  Hardy 
would  have  burned  another  signal,  and  again,  a  con- 
clusion much  to  be  desired,  the  vessel  might  succeed 
in  working  off  from  the  dangerous  situation. 

"  Slow  and  sure  is  better  than  rapid  and  uncer- 
tain," the  keeper  shouted  cheerily,  and  Benny  was 
surprised  that  the  crew  should  appear  almost  eager 
for  the  work,  which,  under  the  most  favoring  cir- 
cumstances in  case  the  schooner  struck,  would  be 
severe  and  attended  with  great  suffering.  He  shiv- 
ered as  he  realized  that  perhaps  soon  the  clothing 
of  these  brave  fellows,  wet  with  spray,  would  be 
converted  into  an  armor  of  ice,  which  they  must 

98 


SAVING  LIFE.  99 

wear  as  best  they  might  on  this  bitter  winter's  night 
until  the  task  of  life-saving  was  accomplished,  or 
proven  to  be  fruitless. 

The  cheeriness  of  the  men  was  by  no  means  allied 
to  mirth.  They  were  setting  out,  perchance,  to 
battle  face  to  face  with  death,  and  realized  to  the 
utmost  all  the  dangers  and  the  suffering  which 
awaited  them.  It  could  also  be  told,  from  a  certain 
manner  apparent  in  all,  that  their  thoughts  were 
with  those  poor  fellows  whose  craft  was  drifting  on 
to  the  cruel  rocks,  rather  than  upon  the  possible 
labor  which  might  be  demanded  of  them. 

Now  and  then  as  they  paused  for  an  instant,  while 
making  ready  to  haul  the  wagon  over  some  miniature 
cliff,  one  of  the  crew  referred'to  the  anxiety  which 
must  be  in  the  hearts  of  those  aboard  the  schooner, 
and  another  expressed  satisfaction  that  the  im- 
perilled mariners  knew  there  were  on  the  shore  wait- 
ing to  succor  them,  men  who  were  provided  with 
every  known  method  for  saving  life  under  such  cir- 
cumstances. 

All  the  while  as  these  men  spoke  one  with  another 
evincing  anxiety  for  strangers,  they  were  fighting 
against  the  furious  wind  and  driving  particles  of 
frost,  and  even  at  times,  when  their  way  lay  near 
the  water's  edge,  against  the  volumes  of  surf  which 
were  flung  landward  by  the  angry  blasts. 

There   was   no  moment  when  the  progress  was 


100  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

other  than  extremely  difficult,  and  Benny  was  abso- 
lutely obliged  at  times  to  allow  them  to  drag  him 
at  the  tail  of  the  cart,  else  he  would  have  been  left 
far  behind ;  but  yet  those  brave  fellows  had  not  a 
word,  perhaps  not  a  thought,  concerning  their  own 
labor  or  peril. 

'  Half-way  to  Skinner's  Point!"  Joe  Gushing 
shouted  as  they  mounted  a  hill  of  brown  rock  from 
which  the  snow  had  been  driven,  and  stood  for  a 
single  instant  to  regain  their  breath.  "  Half-way  to 
Skinner's  Point,  and  no  signal  from  Sam !  Who 
can  see  the  schooner  ?  " 

Every  eye  had  been  directed  seaward  when  they 
first  gained  the  elevation,  but  it  was  as  if  the  wind 
drove  the  snow  yet  more  compactly,  and  the  oldest 
surfman  among  them  failed  to  see  objects  at  a  dis- 
tance of  fifty  feet. 

"  God  help  the  men  who  are  drifting  on  to  the 
coast  this  night!"  Keeper  Downey  muttered,  and 
then  added  in  a  cheery  tone,  "  Get  on,  boys!  Get 
on!  You  '11  freeze  if  you  stand  loitering  here,  and 
exercise  is  what  all  of  us  are  most  needing  just  now. 

Benny  shut  his  teeth  tightly  together  when,  from 
the  movement  of  the  wagon  he  knew  the  men  were 
settling  forward  in  the  rope  harness  again,  and  de- 
termined to  so  husband  his  strength  during  the 
remainder  of  the  journey  that  when  they  came  to 
the  more  difficult  portions  of  the  road  he  might  be 


SAVING  LIFE.  IOI 

able  to  lend  some  assistance,  even  though  feeble, 
rather  than  act  the  part  of  a  drag  on  the  load. 

During  fifteen  minutes  more  the  men  pulled  and 
tugged,  straining  every  muscle  to  drag  the  heavily 
laden  wagon  over  the  difficult  way,  and  then  as  if 
by  common  consent  another  halt  was  made. 

We  should  be  seeing  the  schooner  by  this  time, 
unless  she  has  succeeded  in  crawling  off  from  the 
land,"  Keeper  Downey  said,  letting  go  his  hold  on 
the  cart  as  he  advanced  to  the  edge  of  the  rocky 
cliffs  and  looked  out  over  the  waters. 

No  more  than  five  hundred  yards  in  distance  lay 
between  them  and  the  dreaded  Skinner's  Point, 
where  so  many  vessels  had  met  their  doom,  yet  the 
driving  snow  shut  out  all  save  immediate  objects 
from  their  view. 

Nothing  had  been  seen  or  heard  from  Sam  Hardy, 
and  even  the  keeper  began  to  believe  that  possibly 
the  danger  had  been  averted  from  this  particular 
vessel. 

Again  Downey  gave  the  word  to  push  on ;  again 
the  men  strained  at  the  ropes  and  the  handle-bar, 
and  again  they  were  advancing  on  their  mission  of 
mercy. 

Now  no  one  spoke ;  each  man  was  too  far  spent 
with  toil  to  dare  waste  breath  in  cheering  his  com- 
rades. 

Then,  and  it  seemed  to  Benny  as  if  they  had  but 


102  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

just  started  on  this  last  stage  of  the  journey,  a  glow 
was  seen  dead  ahead  through  the  bewildering  maze 
of  dancing,  whirling  snow,  and  an  exclamation  of 
sorrow  burst  from  the  lips  of  every  one. 

"  She  has  struck,  boys,  and  now  we  're  to  work 
for  their  lives !  "  Keeper  Downey  shouted,  his  words 
causing  each  member  of  the  crew  to  leap  forward 
with  renewed  vigor,  as  if  the  knowledge  of  peril  to 
others  had  taken  from  him  all  sensation  of  weari- 
ness. 

Benny  understood  from  these  words  that  the  light 
which  had  been  seen  was  Sam's  signal  telling  that 
the  schooner  had  struck  the  rocks,  and  what  was 
much  like  a  fever  came  over  him  as  he  exerted  all 
his  puny  strength  to  forcing  the  wagon-load  of  life- 
saving  appliances  on  yet  faster. 

It  was  a  race  between  the  life  savers  and  death, 
and  by  no  possibility  could  they  have  won  had 
Keeper  Downey  been  so  unwise  as  to  push  them  to 
their  utmost  speed  when  first  setting  out  from  the 
station.  Now  that  the  supreme  struggle  was  at 
hand  they  had  a  reserve  of  strength  which  bore 
them  on  to  partial  victory. 

Just  how  they  finally  succeeded  in  gaining  the 
point  where  Sam  Hardy  stood  peering  intently  out 
over  the  waste  of  boiling  waters,  Benny  never  knew. 
The  last  five  minutes  of  that  mad  scramble  was  to 
him  as  a  dream,  in  which  he  was  conscious  only  of 


SAVING  LIFE.  103 

making  every  effort  to  press  forward,  lest  by  falter- 
ing he  should  be  deemed  unworthy  a  place  among 
those  whom  he  considered  true  heroes.  He  knew, 
however,  that  they  were  come  to  the  spot  where  the 
work  could  be  performed,  because  of  hearing  Tom 
Downey  cry  sharply  as  each  man  dropped  the  har- 
ness of  rope  to  run  back  to  the  wagon  and  take  up 
his  proper  station : 

"  Stand  aside,  lad,  and  make  it  your  business  to 
keep  out  of  the  way." 

Benny  understood  that  there  was  nothing  for  him 
to  do  in  the  way  of  lending  aid,  and  realized  he 
could  only  show  that  he  might  be  of  some  service  in 
the  future  by  following  the  instructions  to  the  letter. 

Now  had  come  the  moment  when  the  lad  could 
appreciate  the  value  of  the  drilling  which  the  men 
were  forced  to  undergo  day  after  day. 

Every  member  of  the  crew  knew  exactly  what  he 
should  do,  and  did  it  as  methodically  and  quickly 
as  if  on  the  drill-ground  back  of  the  station. 

While  the  captain  slung  the  haversack  containing 
the  ammunition  over  his  shoulders,  Sam  threw  the 
buoy  off  the  cart.  Henderson,  Jones,  and  Brown 
unloaded  the  shovel,  pick,  and  sand-anchor,  and 
proceeded  at  once  to  fasten  the  latter  at  a  point 
already  decided  upon  by  Mr.  Downey.  Gushing 
and  Robbins  took  out  the  shot-line  box.  The  cap- 
tain and  Hardy  placed  the  cannon  a  short  distance 


104  THE  LfFE   SABERS. 

to  the  windward  of  the  wagon,  and  the  box  was  set 
down  on  a  line  with  the  muzzle  of  the  gun. 

The  keeper  loaded  with  cartridges,  Hardy  brought 
the  shot,  which  he  held  for  the  captain  to  wipe,  and 
then  inserted  it  into  the  bore  of  the  gun,  forcing  it 
down  firmly  on  the  charge.  Joe  Gushing  wet  a 
fathom  of  the  shot-line  and  bent  it  into  the  shank 
of  the  shot  with  three  half-hitches,  without  disturb- 
ing the  fakes,  and  without  leaving  any  slack  line 
between  the  gun  and  the  shot-line  box. 

Hardy  and  Gushing,  kneeling  either  side  of  the 
cannon,  trained  the  muzzle  to  the  right  or  the  left 
as  Downey  commanded.  While  this  was  being  done 
Sawyer  unloaded  and  carried  the  crotch  (two  pieces 
of  wood  formed  after  the  fashion  of  the  letter  X)  to 
a  point  near  the  shore,  in  a  line  between  the  sand 
anchor  and  the  wreck. 

Even  Benny,  who  knew  nothing  of  such  labor, 
understood  that  many  seconds  of  valuable  time  must 
have  been  saved  by  the  crew  being  so  familiar  with 
all  the  details  of  the  work,  and  accustomed  to  per- 
forming each  portion  of  it  in  like  manner  every 
time. 

A  description  of  the  men  at  work  is  given  at  this 
moment  in  order  that  one  may  know  exactly  how  a 
life-saving  crew  goes  to  work,  and  it  must  not  be 
supposed  that  Keeper  Downey's  men,  or  even  Benny 
Foster,  directed  their  gaze  all  the  time  toward  these 


SAVING  LIFE.  IO5 

operations,  without  glancing  seaward  where  was  the 
noble  vessel  grinding  her  life  out  upon  the  cruel 
rocks,  as  her  crew  looked  down  into  the  face  of 
what  would  have  been  certain  death  but  for  the 
presence  of  those  brave  fellows  on  the  bluff. 

When  the  men  halted  with  the  wagon,  and  even 
while  they  were  removing  the  implements,  every  one 
could  see  the  schooner  as  she  lay  not  more  than  a 
hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  the  shore,  heading 
directly  toward  them. 

So  large  was  she,  and  with  her  sails  holding  back, 
as  it  were,  much  of  the  snow,  even  Benny  could 
distinguish  her  quite  distinctly,  and  while  his  com- 
rades labored  as  do  men  who  work  in  defence  of 
their  lives,  he  saw  portions  of  rail  and  deck  torn  off 
piece-meal  by  the  waves  which  were  striking  sledge- 
hammer blows  against  the  side  of  the  doomed  craft, 
each  one  sounding,  even  above  the  howling  of  the 
blasts,  like  the  booming  of  a  cannon. 

Seven  men  could  be  made  out  now  and  then  when 
the  snow  wreaths  were  less  dense,  in  various  places 
of  refuge  about  the  wreck;  three  were  aloft  in  the 
port  mizzen-rigging,  one  in  the  port  fore-rigging, 
and  three  about  the  forecastle,  or  in  the  bowsprit. 
In  these  positions  they  remained  apparently  immov- 
able. It  was  to  Benny  as  if  they  were  frozen  beyond 
the  power  of  movement,  as  indeed  might  have  been 
the  case,  for  the  night  was  bitterly  cold. 


106  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

So  near  the  shore  did  the  wreck  lay  that  it  seemed 
impossible  Downey  could  miss  his  aim. 

Benny  heard  Joe  Gushing  say: 

"  With  five  ounces  of  powder  and  a  No.  9  shot- 
line  bent  on,  there  should  be  no  trouble  in  opening 
communication  with  those  poor  fellows." 

Then  the  keeper  had  adjusted  the  piece  and 
pulled  the  lanyard. 

Benny  saw  a  tongue  of  flame  leap  out  from  the 
mouth  of  the  gun,  and  as  the  shot  sped  through  the 
air,  the  line,  so  carefully  laid  in  the  faking-box,  un- 
coiled length  by  length,  until  suddenly  and  without 
apparent  cause  it  parted. 

The  shot  sped  on  ;  but  fully  two  thirds  of  the  line 
remained  in  the  box. 

In  the  shortest  possible  space  of  time,  and  without 
unnecessary  words,  the  cannon  was  reloaded  with 
the  same  amount  of  powder  and  the  same-sized  line 
as  before. 

Once  more  appeared  the  tongue  of  flame.  In  the 
midst  of  it  the  lad,  who  hardly  breathed  because  of 
his  excitement,  saw  the  missile  as  it  sped  onward 
true  to  its  aim,  dragging  after  it  length  upon  length 
of  thin  line  which  unloosed  from  the  box  in  the  most 
perfect  fashion,  and  then  a  loud  cry  of  triumph  went 
up  from  the  brave  fellows  who  had  expended  so 
much  labor  to  aid  the  unfortunate  manners. 

Even  in  the  gloom  and  amid  the  falling  snow  one 


SAVING  LIFE.  IO/ 

could  see  that  narrow,  black  thread  as  it  lay  fairly 
across  the  wreck  just  forward  of  the  mizzen-rigging, 
and  within  easy  reach  of  the  sailors  in  the  vicinity ; 
but  yet  no  one  of  that  imperiled  crew  left  his  place 
of  refuge  to  seize  upon  it. 

Just  for  an  instant  the  life  savers  on  the  shore 
stood  in  amazement.  They  had  laid  to  hand  a 
means  of  escape,  and  yet  those  who  were  so  near 
death  had  not  moved  a  finger  toward  availing  them- 
selves of  the  opportunity. 

'  They  are  most  likely  frozen  into  helplessness," 
Keeper  Downey  cried.  "  Let's  give  them  one  more 
line,  boys,  and  this  time  we  '11  send  it  farther  for- 
ward. There  must  be  some  one  on  that  schooner 
who  can  help  himself,  as  least  so  far  as  to  haul  in 
the  rope. 

Rapidly  as  the  life  savers  worked  before,  they 
moved  yet  more  quickly  now  that  it  was  understood 
those  whom  they  would  rescue  were  so  nearly  unable 
to  aid  themselves. 

It  seemed  to  Benny  as  if  he  had  no  more  than 
time  to  count  ten  before  the  third  faking-box  had 
been  brought  from  the  wagon,  and  the  gun  was  re- 
loaded, re-aimed,  and  discharged. 

Again  he  saw  the  narrow  black  line  amid  the 
white,  drifting  snow.  Again  a  cry  of  triumph  went 
up  from  those  whom  he  called  his  comrades,  and 
this  time  the  line  lay  directly  across  the  deck  of  the 


108  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

schooner  just  abaft  the  fore-rigging,  where  the  sailor 
on  the  port  side  might  reach  it  without  so  much  as 
leaving  his  station. 

After  five  seconds,  perhaps,  this  man,  whose  gar- 
ments had  almost  been  brushed  by  the  line-carrying 
shot,  made  no  motion,  and  then  slowly,  as  if  it  re- 
quired all  his  strength  to  move  so  much  as  a  finger, 
the  unfortunate  sailor  stretched  forth  his  hand  until 
he  grasped  that  narrow  cord  which  alone  remained 
between  him  and  death. 

"  He  can't  haul  it  in!  "  Sam  Hardy  cried  in  dis- 
may. "  It  's  more  than  he  can  do  to  raise  his  arm." 

If  the  crew  of  the  schooner  could  not  second  the 
efforts  of  the  life  savers,  then  indeed  were  they  not 
rescued,  for  no  man  might  get  through  that  surf 
from  the  shore  to  the  schooner,  and  the  life-boat 
could  not  be  used  because  of  shallow  water  and 
rocks. 

Every  man  on  the  bluff  shouted  words  of  encour- 
agement which  could  not  be  heard  by  those  for 
whom  they  were  intended ;  but  it  seemed  impos- 
sible to  remain  quiet  while  the  half-dead  sailors 
stood  within  reach  of  help,  and  yet  were  unable  to 
grasp  it. 

It  was  to  Benny  as  if  a  full  hour  passed,  although 
in  fact  perhaps  not  more  than  three  or  four  minutes 
elapsed  before  the  man  in  the  fore-rigging  succeeded 
in  thrashing  his  arms  together,  most  likely  to  break 


SAVING  LIFE.  109 

the  ice  which,  forming  over  his  garments,  encased 
him  as  if  in  bonds  of  iron,  and  then,  slowly  at  first, 
but  more  rapidly  as  the  seconds  passed,  he  succeeded 
in  recovering  the  use  of  his  limbs  until  he  reached 
down  and  caught  up  the  line. 

Now  it  was  a  shout  of  triumph  which  went  up 
from  those  on  the  bluff,  and  the  anxious  lad  who 
was  bending  forward  over  the  very  edge  of  the  rocks 
believed  the  sailor  heard  the  cry,  for  it  was  as  if 
something  suddenly  animated  him.  He  began 
hauling  in  on  this  means  of  escape  from  the  angry 
waters  as  he  turned  his  head  toward  those  in  the 
mizzen-rigging,  evidently  urging  them  to  come  to 
his  assistance. 

Each  instant  was  fraught  with  danger  for  those 
upon  the  wreck.  Plank  by  plank  the  schooner  was 
being  torn  to  pieces  by  the  irresistible  force  of  the 
towering  waves,  and  it  needed  not  that  one  should 
be  versed  in  such  matters  to  understand  that  before 
many  moments  passed  one  or  all  of  the  spars  must 
go  by  the  board. 

Now  that  the  sailor  on  the  wreck  was  hauling  in 
the  shot-line,  the  crew  set  about  making  the  neces- 
sary arrangements  for  sending  aboard  the  hawser, 
and  before  this  had  been  completed  Benny  shouted, 
although  speaking  to  no  one  in  particular: 

The    men    in   the   mizzen-rigging   are    coming 
down!     They  are  going  to  help  themselves!  " 


no 


THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 


It  was  as  the  lad  had  said,  for  soon  all  save  two 
on  the  forecastle  were  hauling  on  the  tackle  which 
was  made  fast  to  the  shot-line,  and  in  perhaps  ten 
minutes  from  the  time  the  last  missile  was  fired 
across  the  deck  of  the  wreck,  the  sailors  had  suc- 
ceeded in  attaching  the  tail-block  to  the  mainmast. 

Now  even  Benny  could  be  of  assistance  in  man- 
ning the  whip  to  haul  the  breeches-buoy  out  to  the 
ship. 


As  the  lad  saw  the  buoy  appearing  and  disappear- 
ing amid  the  waves,  but  continuing  rapidly  on  to- 
ward the  wreck,  a  great  joy  came  into  his  heart,  and 
he  realized  then,  if  never  before,  the  wondrous 
pleasure  which  must  come  to  those  who  succeed  in 
saving  lives  after  a  desperate  battle. 

When  the  buoy  reached  the  wreck  those  ashore 
saw  a  man  step  into  it,  and  then  came  the  command : 
Man  the  lee  whip!  Haul  ashore!  " 

Now  the  life  savers  were  working  to  economize 


SAVING  LIFE.  Ill 

time.  Every  second  must  be  utilized  if  that  crew 
of  seven  was  to  be  brought  ashore  before  the 
schooner  should  have  been  torn  to  pieces. 

Anxious  though  Benny  was,  and  fearful  lest  they 
should  not  succeed  in  getting  even  one  ashore,  the 
breeches-buoy  appeared  to  be  moving  swiftly,  as 
indeed  was  the  case,  for  every  man  of  the  crew, 
tailing  on  the  whip,  wis  working  as  only  men  can 
under  similar  circumstances. 

The  first  of  the  rescued  was  well-nigh  helpless 
after  gaining  the  shore,  and  now  had  come  the  time 
when  Benny  might  be  of  some  assistance. 

"  Let  me  take  care  of  him,  sir,  and  it  will  save  a 
man's  labor  when  you  need  all  hands  at  the  whip," 
the  lad  said  as  Keeper  Downey  approached,  and  the 
latter  replied  with  a  ring  of  cheeriness  in  his  tones 
which  had  not  been  heard  since  the  work  began : 

"  Here  's  where  you  '11  come  in  handy,  lad. 
Roust  that  fellow  about;  don't  let  him  remain 
quiet,  for  he  must  keep  the  blood  circulating." 

Then  the  weather  whip  was  manned,  and  the  buoy 
forced  out  toward  the  wreck  to  receive  another  pas- 
senger. In  again  was  it  hauled,  and  two  lives  had 
been  saved. 

"  Man  the  weather  whip!     Haul  out!  " 

The  third  had  taken  his  place  in  the  breeches 
buoy. 

"  Man  the  lee  whip!     Haul  ashore!  " 


112  THE  LIFE  SAVERS. 

The  third  had  been  saved. 

And  so  went  on  the  work  while  the  tempest 
howled  and  raged ;  the  snow  wreathed  and  whirled 
as  if  to  blind  the  life  savers,  and  the  sea  roared  and 
bellowed  at  losing  its  prey;  but  in  time — in  a  com- 
paratively short  time — six  were  ashore,  and  only 
one  remained  upon  the  quivering  vessel  which  was 
now  hardly  more  than  a  hulk,  so  sadly  had  the  sea 
battered  and  torn  it. 

For  the  last  time  the  buoy  was  being  run  out,  and 
more  than  half  the  distance  had  been  traversed  when 
suddenly,  and  without  warning,  the  mizzen-mast 
went  by  the  board,  carrying  with  it  the  mainmast. 

As  the  second  spar  fell,  communication  between 
the  life  savers  and  this  poor  fellow  for  whom  they 
were  battling,  was  broken ;  but  almost  while  the 
disaster  was  taking  place  Tom  Downey  had  sprung 
to  the  gun  for  the  purpose  of  sending  out  another 
shot-line,  when  a  cry  of  horror  went  up — a  crash 
was  heard  even  above  the  howling  of  the  tempest, 
and  the  foremast  had  fallen. 

Now  it  was  that  Benny  witnessed  a  scene  of  hero- 
ism such  as  is  seldom  heard  about,  although  often 
performed — heroism  that  is  displayed  during  the 
winter's  tempests  on  our  rock-bound  coasts,  in  the 
presence  of  those  who  themselves  are  heroes. 

When  the  last  spar  fell  he  who  remained  upon  the 
wreck  was  seen  to  leap  from  the  port-rail  beyond 


SAVING  LIFE.  113 

the  raffle  of  spars  and  cordage  which  dashed  to  and 
fro  alongside,  and  Sam  Hardy  cried  with  a  tone  of 
admiration  in  his  sturdy  voice: 

"  That  fellow  has  got  grit,  and  will  fight  well  for 
his  life!  See  him  strike  out!  " 

The  man  was  swimming  bravely  in  the  icy  waters, 
and  every  member  of  the  crew,  who  an  instant  be- 
fore despaired  of  being  able  to  save  him,  now  began 
to  hope  that  through  his  own  exertions  the  task 
might  be  accomplished. 

The  surf  was  dashing  a  hundred  feet  up  the  side 
of  the  cliff,  and  the  water  'twixt  the  schooner  and 
the  shore  so  filled  with  wreckage  that  it  seemed  as 
if  the  swimmer  must  be  torn  to  pieces  ere  he  could 
take  a  dozen  strokes,  but  yet  now  and  then,  as  the 
billows  raised  him  on  high,  it  could  be  seen  that  he 
was  holding  his  own — that  he  was  making  headway 
toward  the  shore. 

It  needed  no  word  of  command  from  Tom  Dow- 
ney to  send  every  member  of  his  crew  into  the 
foaming  waters,  and  there,  with  a  line  stretched 
from  one  to  the  other,  the  entire  seven  formed  a 
chain;  with  Sam  Hardy  at  the  outermost  end,  all 
buried  under  each  succeeding  wave,  but  yet  pressing 
outward  in  the  hope  of  being  able  to  clutch  the 
gallant  swimmer  before  he  should  become  exhausted. 

Finally  it  seemed  as  if  the  man  had  gained  a  foot- 
hold on  the  rocks,  for  he  apparently  stood  in  the 

8 


114  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

water  knee-deep  one  single  instant,  and  then  a  re- 
ceding sea,  lifting  him  from  his  footing,  hurled  him 
backward  toward  the  hulk  from  which  he  had 
escaped. 

"  Give  me  more  rope!  "  Sam  Hardy  shouted,  and 
Benny  stifled  the  cry  of  fear  which  came  to  his  lips 
as  he  saw  the  gallant  surfman  swimming  out  to  meet 
the  half-drowned  sailor. 

Then  an  incoming  sea  caught  up  the  man  who 
had  made  such  a  desperate  struggle  for  life,  bore 
him  shoreward  again  until  he  was  within  twenty 
feet  of  Hardy,  when  one  of  the  schooner's  spars, 
rearing  up  in  the  water  as  if  raised  by  some  giant 
hand,  descended  upon  the  struggling  wretch,  crush- 
ing out  his  life  as  it  forced  him  down  to  the  bottom 
of  the  sea. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

FLUFF  A   HERO. 

During  the  work  of  rescue  Bering  was  fully  em- 
ployed, according  to  instructions  received  from 
Keeper  Downey,  in  ministering  to  those  who  had 
been  brought  on  shore. 

The  clothing  of  the  men  was  water-soaked,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  and  very  shortly  after  gaining  the 
shore  these  saturated  garments  were  frozen  stiff. 
Therefore  it  was  necessary  that  the  rescued  be  kept 
moving  to  and  fro  as  rapidly  as  possible,  and  when 
one  or  another,  exhausted  by  previous  exposure, 
would  have  succumbed  to  the  drowsiness  which  pre- 
cedes death  by  freezing,  Benny  urged  him  to  walk 
about,  employing  threats  when  entreaties  were  of 
no  avail. 

Immediately  after  the  brave  sailor  had  met  his 
death  Keeper  Downey  called  sharply  for  Benny, 
and  when  the  lad  stood  before  him,  asked : 

"  Are  you  willing  to  make  another  try  at  finding 
the  station,  lad  ?  " 

"5 


Il6  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

"  Yes,  indeed,  sir  ?  " 

"  The  rescued  men  should  be  able  to  get  there 
under  your  guidance  more  quickly  than  by  remain- 
ing with  us.  If  you  can  keep  your  wits  in  this 
smother  of  snow,  set  out,  and  see  to  it  that  every 
man  moves  at  his  best  pace.  The  fog-horn  will  give 
you  the  direction.  Once  you  have  arrived  oblige  the 
men  to  strip  off  their  frozen  garments,  and  supply 
them  with  dry  clothing.  I  am  trusting  you  to  take 
all  six  of  them,  in,  Benny,  and  it  is  n't  impossible 
one  or  more,  half-dazed  as  they  are,  may  refuse  to 
move  as  rapidly  as  is  necessary,  therefore  you  must 
keep  a  sharp  lookout." 

"  Shall  I  go  now,  sir  ?  " 

"Be  off  as  quickly  as  you  can,"  Tom  Downey 
replied,  and  Benny  noted  with  pride  that  the  keeper 
turned  immediately  away  to  attend  to  the  reloading 
of  the  beach-wagon,  a  fact  which,  to  the  lad's  mind, 
proved  that  he  was  trusted  implicitly. 

"  You  are  to  come  with  me,"  Benny  said,  going 
to  where  the  rescued  men  were  tramping  round- 
about in  a  circle,  threshing  their  arms  together  to 
keep  up  the  circulation  of  blood.  "  Mr.  Downey 
says  you  must  be  kept  moving  at  full  speed,  and 
since  I  'm  not  big  enough  to  carry  out  the  orders  if 
there  's  any  kick  made,  your  captain  ought  to  see 
that  there  is  no  loitering." 

Our  captain  was  the  last  to  leave  the  schooner, 


FLUFF  A   HERO.  II 7 

and  you  know  he  did  not  gain  the  shore,"  one  of 
the  men  replied,  his  voice  choking  with  emotion. 
"  I  'm  the  mate,  however,  and  you  '11  find  we  can 
obey  orders.  A  man  would  be  a  poor  stick  who 
did  n't  carry  out  any  instructions  given  by  those 
who  have  met  death  more  than  half-way  to  save 
him." 

"I  'm  not  very  certain  of  the  road,  but  if  we 
follow  the  sound  of  the  fog-horn  we  '11  come  out 
near  the  station,  and  we  'd  best  get  off  now,  else 
Mr.  Downey  will  think  we  're  loafing." 

"  Strike  out,  an'  we  '11  keep  at  your  heels,"  the 
mate  replied,  and,  trusting  to  this  promise,  Benny 
set  off,  bending  low  to  protect  his  face  from  the 
pitiless  lashing  of  the  snow. 

Very  proud  was  the  boy  at  having  been  given  this 
share  in  the  labor  of  rescue,  and  when  the  way  was 
difficult,  or  the  elements  beat  him  back,  he  repeated 
to  himself  again  and  again  that  if  this  duty  should 
be  performed  worthily  he  would  most  likely  be  en- 
trusted with  others  as  occasion  might  arise. 

The  journey  to  the  station  was  simply  a  repetition 
of  the  one  made  after  the  schooner  was  first  sighted, 
except  that  on  this  occasion  he  had  companionship, 
and  his  mind  was  taken  from  the  difficulties  of  the 
way  in  a  great  measure  by  the  responsibility  which 
had  been  put  upon  him. 

The   mate   urged   the   crew  to    keep   pace   with 


Il8  THE  LIFE   SAVERS, 

Benny,  but  every  man  among  them  found  it  more 
difficult  to  press  on  than  did  the  lad  ;  yet  the  hinder- 
most  was  no  more  than  a  dozen  yards  in  the  rear 
when  the  guide  gained  the  door  of  the  station  and 
was  welcomed  by  the  shrill  barking  of  Fluff,  who 
had  distinguished  his  master's  footsteps  even  above 
the  howling  of  the  gale. 

Since  the  Amazonia  sailed  from  Calcutta  this  was 
the  first  time  the  tiny  dog  had  been  left  alone,  and 
the  welcome  he  gave  Benny  was  so  vigorous  that  it 
seemed  as  if  the  noise  would  shake  his  tiny  body 
into  fragments. 

"  Be  a  good  dog,  Fluff,  and  wait  just  a  little  bit 
till  I  get  dry  clothes  for  the  men.  I  'm  just  as  glad 
to  see  you  as  you  are  to  see  me,  but  while  there  's 
work  to  be  done  we  must  n't  spend  time  telling  each 
other  about  it." 

The  dog  danced  and  capered  and  barked  at 
Benny's  heels  as  he  went  back  and  forth  from  the 
store-room  to  where  the  sailors  were  gathered  around 
the  glowing  fire,  and  it  was  much  as  if  he  fancied 
himself  assisting  in  the  labor  —  as  if  Fluff  also 
counted  on  being  a  surfman. 

The  cook,  who  had  retired  before  the  crew  set  out, 
now  came  down  to  perform  his  regular  share  of  the 
work  in  such  cases,  which  was  to  make  a  fresh 
supply  of  coffee  and  prepare  a  meal  for  the  ex- 
hausted men. 


FLUFF  A   HERO.  1 19 

Benny  had  faithfully  carried  out  the  instructions 
given  him  by  the  keeper,  and  there  was  nothing 
more  he  could  do  until  the  crew  should  return,  when 
he  knew  full  well  his  services  would  be  welcomed 
gladly  by  the  weary,  half-frozen  life  savers. 

The  mate  was  disposed  to  indulge  in  conversation, 
and  after  having  drank  a  bowl  of  hot  coffee,  he  told 
the  lad  that  the  schooner  which  was  being  torn  to 
pieces  on  Skinner's  Point  was  the  Three  Brothers, 
coal-laden,  from  Philadelphia  to  Portland.  At  noon 
on  that  day,  so  low  did  the  temperature  fall  that  ice 
had  formed  about  the  craft  until  she  was  unmanage- 
able, and  during  five  hours  had  been  driven  at  the 
mercy  of  wind  and  waves. 

"  Knowing  the  schooner  was  bound  to  go  ashore, 
we  hoped  it  might  be  in  the  vicinity  of  where  she 
did  strike." 

"  But  why  did  you  want  her  wrecked  there  ?  It 
seems  to  me  a  worse  place  could  n't  be  found." 

"  We  knew  there  was  a  life-saving  station  near, 
and  when  the  red  glare  of  the  Coston  signal  flashed 
out  through  the  snow,  all  hands  understood  that  a 
crew  of  good  men  and  true  stood  ready  to  do  what- 
soever lay  in  their  power  to  give  us  aid.  I  answered 
that  signal,  and  then  ran  over  in  my  mind  the  in- 
structions which  the  service  sends  out  to  every  ship- 
master and  mate." 

"  What   kind   of   instructions  ?  "    Benny   asked, 


I2O  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

showing   by  the  expression   on   his  face  that  this 
information  was  something  entirely  new  to  him. 

If  you  care  to  find  out,  you  will  find  a  small, 
black,  water-proofed  book,  something  like  a  note- 
case, in  the  pocket  of  the  coat  I  took  off,  and  there 
everything  is  set  down  so  plainly  any  sailor  can 
understand  what  should  be  done  when  the  life-saving 
crew  appears.  But  you  here  in  the  station  should 
know  all  about  it." 

"  I  have  n't  been  here  but  a  day  or  two,"  Benny 
replied  gravely.  "  I  was  on  the  ship  Amazonia 
when  she  went  ashore  only  a  short  distance  from 
this  building." 

Then  you  know  what  it  is  to  see  these  men 
come  to  your  assistance.  How  many  were  saved 
from  the  ship,  lad  ?  " 

"  No  one  but  me,"  Benny  replied,  turning  away 
quickly  lest  the  mate  should  see  the  tears  in  his 
eyes,  and  in  order  to  avoid  further  questioning  he 
went  in  search  of  the  book  mentioned. 

"It  's  the  only  thing  in  my  pocket,  lad,"  the 
mate  cried,  understanding,  perhaps,  why  Benny 
professed  such  eagerness  to  see  the  instructions. 

I  took  it  from  my  berth  when  it  seemed  certain 
the  TJirce  Brothers  was  doomed.  Give  me  the 
book,  and  I  '11  read  that  part  of  the  printed  matter 
which  most  interests  us  sailors." 

After  searching  over  the  sodden  clothing,  which  he 


FLUFF  A   HERO.  121 

had  carefully  hung  on  pegs  behind  the  stove,  Benny 
found  a  tiny  book  and  brought  it  to  the  mate,  who 
read  as  one  does  who  wishes  to  refresh  his  memory : 

'  The  patrolman,  after  discovering  your  vessel 
ashore  and  burning  a  Coston  signal,  hastens  to  his 
station  for  assistance.  If  the  use  of  a  boat  is  prac- 
ticable, either  the  large  life-boat  is  launched  from 
its  ways  in  the  station  and  proceeds  to  the  wreck  by 
water,  or  the  lighter  surf-boat  is  hauled  overland 
to  a  point  opposite  the  wreck  and  launched,  as  cir- 
cumstances may  require. 

"  '  Upon  the  boat  reaching  your  vessel,  the  direc- 
tions and  orders  of  the  keeper  (who  always  com- 
mands and  steers  the  boat)  should  be  implicitly 
obeyed.  Any  headlong  rushing  and  crowding 
should  be  prevented,  and  the  captain  of  the  vessel 
should  remain  on  board,  to  preserve  order,  until 
every  other  person  has  left. 

'  Women,  children,  helpless  persons,  and  pas- 
sengers should  be  passed  into  the  boat  first. 

'  Goods  or  baggage  will  positively  not  be  taken 
into  the  boat  until  all  are  landed.  If  any  be  passed 
in  against  the  keeper's  remonstrance  he  is  fully 
authorized  to  throw  the  same  overboard. 

"  '  Should  it  be  inexpedient  to  use  either  the  life- 
boat or  surf-boat,  recourse  will  be  had  to  the  wreck- 
gun  and  beach-apparatus  for  the  rescue  by  the 
breeches-buoy  or  the  life-car. 


122  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

'  A  shot  with  a  small  line  attached  will  be  fired 
across  your  vessel. 

'  Get  hold  of  the  line  as  soon  as  possible  and 
haul  on  board  until  you  get  a  tail-block  with  a  whip 
or  endless  line  rove  through  it.  This  tail-block 
should  be  hauled  on  board  as  quickly  as  possible  to 
prevent  the  whip  drifting  off  with  the  set,  or  foul- 
ing with  wreckage,  etc.  Therefore,  if  you  have 
been  driven  into  the  rigging,  where  but  one  or  two 
men  can  work  to  advantage,  cut  the  shot-line  and 
run  it  through  some  available  block,  such  as  the 
throat  or  peak-halliards  block,  or  any  block  which 
will  afford  a  clear  lead,  or  even  between  the  ratlines, 
that  as  many  as  possible  may  assist  in  the  hauling. 

"  '  Attached  to  the  tail-block  will  be  a  tally-board 
with  the  following  directions  in  English  on  one  side 
and  French  on  the  other: 

"  '  Make  the  tail  of  the  block  fast  to  the  lower 
mast,  well  up.  If  the  masts  are  gone,  then  to  the 
best  place  you  can  find.  Cast  off  the  shot-line,  see 
that  the  rope  in  the  block  runs  free,  and  show  a 
signal  to  the  shore. ' 

"  '  As  soon  as  your  signal  is  seen  a  three-inch 
hawser  will  be  bent  on  to  the  whip  and  hauled  off 
to  your  ship  by  the  life-saving  crew. 

'  If  the  circumstances  will  admit,  you  can  assist 
the  life-saving  crew  by  manning  that  part  of  the  whip 
to  which  the  hawser  is  bent,  and  hauling  with  them. 


FLUFF  A   HERO.  12 3 

'  When  the  end  of  the  hawser  is  got  on  board  a 
tally-board  will  be  found  attached,  bearing  the  fol- 
lowing directions  in  English  on  one  side  and  French 
on  the  other: 

"  '  Make  this  hawser  fast  about  two  feet  above 
the  tail-block,  see  all  clear  and  that  the  rope  in  the 
block  runs  free,  and  show  a  signal  to  the  shore.' 

'  Take  particular  care  that  there  are  no  turns  of 
the  whip-line  around  the  hawser.  To  prevent  this 
take  the  end  of  the  hawser  up  between  the  parts  of 
the  whip  before  making  it  fast. 

When  the  hawser  is  made  fast,  the  whip  cast 
off  from  the  hawser,  and  your  signal  seen  by  the 
life-saving  crew,  they  will  haul  the  hawser  taut  and 
by  means  of  the  whip  will  haul  off  to  your  ship  a 
breeches-buoy  suspended  from  a  traveller-block,  or 
a  life-car  from  rings,  running  on  the  hawser. 

'  If  the  breeches-buoy  be  sent,  let  one  man  im- 
mediately get  into  it,  thrusting  his  legs  through  the 
breeches.  If  the  life-car,  remove  the  hatch,  place 
as  many  persons  into  it  as  it  will  hold,  and  secure 
the  hatch  on  the  outside  by  the  hatch-bar  and  hook, 
signal  as  before,  and  the  buoy  or  car  will  be  hauled 
ashore. 

'  In  many  instances  two  men  can  be  landed  in 
the  breeches-buoy  at  the  same  time  by  each  putting 
a  leg  through  a  leg  of  the  breeches  and  holding  on 
to  the  lifts  of  the  buoy. 


124  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

1  Children,  when  brought  ashore  by  the  buoy, 
should  be  in  the  arms  of  older  persons,  or  securely 
lashed  to  the  buoy.  Women  and  children  should 
be  landed  first. 

'  Circumstances  may  arise,  owing  to  the  strength 
of  the  current  or  set,  or  the  danger  of  the  wreck 
breaking  up  immediately,  when  it  would  be  impossi- 
ble to  send  off  the  hawser.  In  such  case  a  breeches- 
buoy  or  life-car  will  be  hauled  off  instead  by  the 
whip,  or  sent  off  to  you  by  the  shot-line,  and  you 
will  be  hauled  ashore  through  the  surf. 

'  If  your  vessel  is  stranded  during  the  night  and 
discovered  by  the  patrolman,  which  you  will  know 
by  his  burning  a  brilliant  red  light,  keep  a  bright 
lookout  for  signs  of  the  arrival  of  the  life-saving 
crew  abreast  your  vessel. 

'  From  one  to  four  hours  may  intervene  between 
the  burning  of  the  light  and  their  arrival,  as  the 
patrolman  will  have  to  return  to  his  station,  perhaps 
three  or  four  miles  distant,  and  the  life-saving  crew 
draw  the  apparatus  or  surf-boat  through  the  sand  or 
over  bad  roads  to  where  your  vessel  is  stranded. 

'  Lights  on  the  beach  will  indicate  their  arrival, 
and  the  sound  of  cannon-firing  from  the  shore  may 
be  taken  as  evidence  that  a  line  has  been  fired  across 
your  vessel.  Therefore,  upon  hearing  the  cannon, 
make  strict  search  aloft,  fore,  and  aft,  for  the  shot- 
line,  for  it  is  almost  certain  to  be  there.  Though 


FLUFF  A    HERO.  12$ 

the  movements  of  the  life-saving  crew  may  not  be 
perceptible  to  you,  owing  to  the  darkness,  your  ship 
will  be  a  good  mark  for  the  men  experienced  in  the 
use  of  the  wreck-gun,  and  the  first  shot  seldom 
fails.'  " 

The  mate  had  read  thus  far,  Benny  listening  in- 
tently to  every  word,  when  the  sound  of  voices  out- 
side, and  the  opening  of  the  boat-room  door,  told 
that  the  crew  had  returned. 

Fluff  greeted  the  men  with  his  shrill  barking,  and 
Benny  laid  out  dry  clothing  for  each  one,  an  atten- 
tion which  was  fully  appreciated,  as  could  be  told 
by  the  exclamations  of  satisfaction  and  of  pleasure 
uttered  by  the  weary  crew  as  they  entered  the  mess- 
room. 

The  shipwrecked  men  greeted  their  rescuers  with 
the  liveliest  protestations  of  gratitude,  and  Tom 
Downey  replied,  even  while  Benny  was  pounding 
his  coat  with  a  broomstick  in  order  to  so  break  the 
ice  that  the  keeper  could  take  it  off: 

"  We  've  only  done  what  the  Government  hires 
us  for,  mates,  an'  our  extra  pay  comes  in  when 
we  're  able  to  save  lives,  as  in  this  case.  I  'd  feel 
that  the  night  was  more  of  a  success  if  we  had  n't 
lost  a  life;  but  we  ashore  could  n't  say  how  weak 
the  spars  had  grown  under  the  pounding  of  the 
waves." 

"  When  the  first  line  came  aboard  I  thought  we 


126  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

were  doomed  because  it  would  be  impossible  to  help 
ourselves,"  the  mate  replied.  "  For  a  time  it 
seemed  as  if  my  arms  were  frozen  stiff,  and  but  for 
the  knowledge  that  death  would  come  in  a  very  few 
moments  unless  something  could  be  done  to  second 
your  efforts,  I  believe  of  a  verity  I  should  have  died 
where  I  stood." 

Then  the  sailors  began  relating  their  personal  ex- 
periences, and  soon  the  rescuers  were  before  the 
glowing  fire  while  the  cook  and  Benny  passed  around 
coffee  or  food,  with  Fluff  sitting  bolt  upright  appar- 
ently listening  intently  to  every  word. 

The  two  whose  duty  it  was  to  go  on  patrol  could 
not  be  excused,  however  excessive  the  labor  just 
performed.  The  storm  was  still  raging  furiously, 
and  the  Three  Brothers  might  not  be  the  only  craft 
in  peril  on  the  coast  that  night. 

Robbins  and  Sawyer  remained  in  the  cheery  mess- 
room  no  longer  than  was  absolutely  necessary,  and 
then  they  went  out  into  the  howling  storm  to  walk 
the  long  beats  on  which  might  be  found  more  work 
for  the  crew  which  had  already  done  such  brave  duty. 

Keeper  Downey  ordered  Benny  to  bed,  accom- 
panying the  command  with  words  that  gave  the  lad 
most  sincere  pleasure : 

You  've  done  as  good  work,  accordin'  to  your 
experience,  as  any  man  among  us,  Benjamin,  an' 
we  're  proud  of  you." 


FLUFF  A   HERO.  I2/ 

Sam  Hardy  nodded  his  approval  of  this  praise, 
and  Benny,  with  Fluff  C.  Foster  in  his  arms,  went 
up-stairs  to  bed  feeling  that  he  would  be  willing  to 
brave  almost  any  danger  in  order  to  earn  another 
compliment  equal  to  that. 

When  the  amateur  surfman  awakened  next  morn- 
ing the  sun  was  shining  brightly,  and,  save  for  the 
roaring  of  the  surf,  nothing  told  of  the  furious 
tempest  which  had  so  lately  raged. 

The  cook  had  already  gone  down-stairs,  and  Benny 
dressed  himself  hurriedly,  for  he  was  not  pleased  at 
the  prospect  of  being  late  at  his  post  of  duty. 

I  counted  on  your  waking  Fluff  and  me,"  he 
said  reproachfully  as  he  entered  the  kitchen.  "  We 

were  up  so  late " 

'  That  's  exactly  the  reason  why  I  sneaked  down- 
stairs on  the  quiet.  After  last  night's  work  you 
should  have  had  a  long  nap,  instead  of  being  down 
here  before  the  fire  is  fairly  going." 

We  did  n't  do  enough  to  hurt  us,"  Benny  re- 
plied with  a  laugh,  "  and  surely  we  must  be  needed 
this  morning,  when  there  are  so  many  mouths  to 
feed." 

"  I  've  had  a  bigger  family  than  this  many  a  time, 
an'  got  through  with  the  work  alone,  but  since 
you  've  been  so  foolish  as  to  turn  out,  I  '11  be  glad 
of  your  help,  for  a  handy  lad  like  you  makes  the  job 
a  light  one." 


128  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

It  seems  as  if  I  was  getting  praised  all  around," 
Benny  said  with  a  laugh  as  he  made  his  toilet. 
"  Pretty  soon  you  '11  be  finding  out  that  I  don't 
deserve  it." 

I  hope  not,  lad,  for  all  hands  of  us  are  getting 
a  good  bit  of  satisfaction  out  of  you  and  the 
dog." 

Benny  was  kept  busy  in  the  kitchen  a  greater 
portion  of  the  succeeding  forty-eight  hours,  and 
then  the  shipwrecked  sailors  were  sent  to  the  neigh- 
boring city,  after  which  the  crew  at  the  station 
settled  down  to  the  old  routine  of  drill  and  patrol, 
every  man  looking  forward  eagerly  to  the  reply  from 
headquarters  regarding  their  request  in  the  boy's 
behalf. 

Sam  Hardy  and  Joe  Gushing  had  taken  it  upon 
themselves  to  teach  Maje  that  Fluff  was  entitled  to 
the  liberty  of  the  station  grounds,  and,  at  the  ex- 
pense of  considerable  time,  and  much  loss  of  temper 
on  the  part  of  Maje,  the  lesson  was  so  nearly  learned 
that  the  big  dog  allowed  the  little  one  to  go  here 
and  there  without  interference,  but  Benny  did  not 
trust  wholly  to  appearances. 

"  It  won't  do  any  harm  if  I  keep  my  eye  on  Fluff 
when  he  goes  out,"  the  lad  said  gravely  after  Sam 
Hardy  had  suggested  that  there  was  no  longer  any 
good  reason  for  being  suspicious  of  Maje.  "  Of 
course  your  dog  is  bound  to  be  jealous  for  a  spell, 


FLUFF  A   HERO.  12$ 

and  till  he  gets  over  it  I  would  n't  want  to  trust 
Fluff  alone  with  him  very  long  at  a  time." 

Both  Sam  and  Joe  were  positive  Maje  could  be 
depended  upon  to  behave  himself,  and  appeared 
eager  Benny  should  allow  matters  to  take  their 
natural  course,  so  far  as  the  two  animals  were  con- 
cerned, therefore  the  boy  permitted  Fluff  to  go  out 
of  doors  whenever  he  was  so  disposed ;  but  he  was 
careful  to  first  make  certain  that  Maje  was  not  in 
the  immediate  vicinity. 

It  was  nearly  sunset  on  the  day  the  shipwrecked 
mariners  had  been  conveyed  to  the  city.  There 
was  not  a  cloud  in  the  sky,  and  the  sea  was  so  calm 
that  it  was  almost  difficult  to  believe  it  could  ever 
be  aroused  to  a  roaring  fury. 

The  lookout  on  day-duty  had  come  down  to  the 
station  for  supper,  and  the  two  whose  time  for 
patrol  began  at  sunset  were  already  eating  the  eve- 
ning meal  that  they  might  be  ready  to  set  out  at  the 
exact  moment. 

Benny  had  been  assisting  the  cook  as  usual,  but 
was  now  waiting  upon  the  men  who  were  about  to 
go  on  patrol. 

Fluff,  ten  minutes  previous,  had  whined  for  per- 
mission to  go  out  of  doors  for  a  stroll,  and,  after 
learning  that  Maje  was  in  the  oil-room,  where  he 
usually  found  a  shelter  during  exceedingly  cold  or 
stormy  weather,  Benny  opened  the  door  for  his  pet. 


130  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

So  white  was  Fluff,  thanks  to  his  master's  custom 
of  giving  him  a  bath  every  other  day,  that  it  was 
almost  impossible  to  distinguish  him  in  the  gloom 
of  early  twilight  while  he  remained  on  the  snow,  and 
Benny  lost  sight  of  him  before  he  had  gone  a  hun- 
dred feet  from  the  building. 

Then  he  was  called  by  one  of  the  men,  and  while 
attending  to  whatever  trifling  duty  had  been  set 
him,  it  was  observed  that  the  boy  appeared  anxious. 
'  What  's  the  matter,  Benjamin  ?"  Sam  Hardy 
asked.  "  Anything  wrong  with  Mr.  Fluff  C. 
Foster  ?  " 

"  I  hope  not,  sir;  but  he  disappeared  so  soon 
after  leaving  the  house  that  I  'm  wondering  if  he 
did  n't  get  into  the  oil-room." 

"  I  reckon  not,  else  we  'd  heard  something  from 
Maje  before  this.  I  'm  goin'  out,  though,  an'  will 
look  after  him." 

Sam  opened  the  door  as  he  spoke,  and  at  that 
instant  Fluff  could  be  heard  in  the  distance,  barking 
shrilly. 

Benny  leaped  to  his  feet  and  ran  toward  the 
door,  calling  the  dog  by  name. 

From  the  noise  it  could  be  told  that  Fluff  came 
nearer  the  building  in  obedience  to  the  summons, 
and  then  stopped,  yelping  and  barking  as  if  in  dire 
distress. 

"Come  here,  sir!     Come  this  minute!"  Benny 


FLUFF  A  HERO.  13 1 

cried  peremptorily,  and  to  the  surprise  of  all,  for  the 
dog  usually  obeyed  readily,  the  yelping  increased 
as  Fluff  retreated  from  the  house. 

Benny  ran  after  him,  and  Sam  Hardy  followed 
quickly,  as  if  he  believed  something  serious  was  the 
cause  of  the  animal's  disobedience. 

The  remainder  of  the  crew  stood  near  the  open 
door  curiously,  and  after  a  brief  interval  they  heard 
Benny  calling  yet  more  peremptorily  to  the  dog, 
when  for  reply  the  yelping  was  changed  to  most 
dismal  howls. 

Maje  shall  have  a  sound  flogging  if  he  has  dared 
to  touch  that  little  fellow!"  Keeper  Downey  said 
threatingly  as  he  took  up  his  cap  to  leave  the  build- 
ing, and  just  at  that  instant  the  crew  were  startled 
by  hearing  Sam  Hardy  shout : 

"  Man  overboard!     Out  with  the  surf-boat!  " 

Members  of  a  life-saving  crew  never  stop  to  ques- 
tion a  statement  of  such  a  nature  as  that  made  by 
their  comrade. 

Every  man  sprang  to  the  boat-room  door,  and  the 
surf-boat  was  outside  the  building  ready  for  launch- 
ing by  the  time  Sam  came  up,  breathless  with  rapid 
running,  but  not  excited. 

"  Beyond  the  Horseshoe!  "  he  cried,  taking  his 
proper  station  with  the  others,  and  in  what  to  a 
stranger  would  have  seemed  an  incredibly  short 
space  of  time  the  light  craft  was  in  the  water,  leap- 


132  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

ing  from  wave  to  wave  under  the  impetus  given  by 
three  pairs  of  oars. 

The  "  Horseshoe  "  was  a  circular  reef  which  made 
out  from  the  main  shore  five  or  six  hundred  yards 
from  the  station,  and  the  cook  ran  with  all  speed 
across  the  bluff,  with  the  idea  that  he  might  arrive 
there  in  advance  of  the  boat. 

His  legs  were  no  match  for  the  life  savers'  arms, 
however,  and  when  he  gained  the  cliff  which  over- 
looked the  reef  the  crew  were  dragging  the  body  of 
a  man  over  the  surf-boat's  rail,  while  a  light  gunning- 
skiff,  overturned,  a  short  distance  away,  was  suffi- 
cient evidence  as  to  the  cause  of  the  disaster. 

"  Some  greenhorn  out  here  alone,  sneaking  along 
the  shore  hoping  to  bag  a  few  ducks  just  at  sunset, 
has  come  near  paying  dearly  for  the  sport,"  the 
cook  muttered  in  an  angry  tone.  "  After  two  or 
three  more  accidents  of  the  same  kind,  sportsmen 
from  the  city  will  begin  to  understand,  I  hope,  that 
such  fun  is  dangerous." 

It  was  the  third  mishap  of  a  similar  nature  that 
season,  and  in  one  case  the  venturesome  hunter  had 
lost  his  life,  therefore  the  cook  might  well  be  ex- 
cused for  losing  his  temper  over  such  careless- 
ness. 

When  he  returned  to  the  station  the  half-drowned 
man  had  been  carried  into  the  building,  but  he  still 
retained  sufficient  consciousness  to  understand  how 


FLUFF  A   HERO.  133 

his  rescue  had  been  brought  about,  and  the  cook 
heard  him  say  to  Tom  Downey : 

"  If  it  had  n't  been  for  your  toy  dog  I  should 
have  drowned,  for  I  'd  swallowed  so  much  salt  water 
that  it  was  impossible  to  make  a  very  loud  noise." 

"  Yes,  I  reckon  you  can  set  it  down  as  a  fact  that 
Fluff  C.  Foster  saved  your  life,  mister,  and  from  this 
out  he,  as  well  as  his  master,  is  a  member  of  this 
'ere  crew  if  I  can  bring  it  about!  "  Joe  Gushing  said 
emphatically,  as  he  emptied  fully  half  the  contents 
of  the  sugar-bowl  into  a  saucer  and  gave  it  to  Fluff, 
who  was  dancing  to  and  fro,  wagging  his  white  tail 
furiously,  as  if  calling  attention  to  the  fact  that 
even  a  "  toy  "  dog  might  be  of  some  service  in  the 
world. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

OFFICIAL   PERMISSION. 

The  story  told  by  the  stranger  did  not  differ  ma- 
terially from  that  which  the  cook  had  imagined  after 
seeing  the  overturned  gunning-skiff. 

The  young  gentleman,  Francis  P.  Bradford  by 
name,  had  been  paddling  around  the  shore,  keeping 
well  within  the  shadow  of  the  rocks  in  the  hope  of 
getting  a  good  bag  of  wild  ducks  when  they  settled 
upon  the  water  at  sunset.  He  had  begun  the  voy- 

134 


OFFICIAL   PERMISSION.  135 

age  from  a  point  two  miles  or  more  distant,  and  ap- 
proached in  such  manner  that  the  men  who  were  on 
watch  could  not  have  seen  him. 

The  shallow  skiff,  which  Sam  Hardy  declared  very 
emphatically  "  was  little  better  than  an  egg-shell," 
had  run  upon  a  submerged  rock,  and,  the  swell 
arising  at  that  instant,  overset  her,  throwing  the 
sportsman  into  the  water. 

Encumbered  as  he  was  by  heavy  clothing,  and 
being  by  no  means  a  skilful  swimmer,  the  sports- 
man could  do  no  more  than  keep  himself  afloat, 
while  the  boat  was  driven  by  the  wind  farther  and 
farther  from  the  shore. 

Knowing  that  a  life-saving  station  was  near  at 
hand,  he  shouted  for  help ;  but,  as  has  been  said,  it 
was  impossible  to  make  any  very  loud  outcry,  and, 
rapidly  becoming  exhausted,  he  believed  death  was 
inevitable  until  there  suddenly  appeared  on  the 
bluff,  to  use  his  own  words,  "  what  looked  to  be  a 
ball  of  white  cotton  blown  along  by  the  wind." 

I  had  no  idea  it  was  a  dog,"  he  said  continuing 
the  story,  "  until  the  fluffy  object  straightened  itself 
out  and  began  barking  shrilly.  I  am  certain  the 
little  fellow  understood  my  plight,  for  when  some 
person  called  him  he  ran  back  a  few  paces,  and  then 
returned  yelping  and  howling  until  one  would  have 
said  there  was  danger  the  volume  of  sound  would 
cause  him  to  explode  like  an  overcharged  boiler." 


136  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

Benny's  eyes  sparkled  with  delight  as  young 
Bradford  continued  to  praise  Fluff;  but  an  expres- 
sion of  dissatisfaction  came  over  his  face  when  the 
sportsman  declared  his  intention  of  leaving  with 
Keeper  Downey  a  sum  of  money  to  be  expended 
in  purchasing  food  and  dainties  for  the  animal  that 
had  been  the  means  of  saving  his  life. 

'What  's  the  matter,  Benny?"  Sam  asked, 
noting  the  look  on  the  boy's  face. 

"  It  won't  do  at  all,  sir,"  and  Benny  spoke  very 
decidedly.  "  Fluff  would  n't  like  to  be  paid  for  such 
a  thing  as  that,  I  'm  certain,  and  besides,  if,  as  Mr. 
Gushing  says,  he  is  a  member  of  the  crew,  then  it  's 
his  business  to  save  life  if  he  can,  without  thinking 
of  taking  money  for  it." 

"I  '11  guarantee  that  the  idea  of  money  never 
came  into  Fluff  C.  Foster's  head!"  Sam  Hardy 
cried,  laughing  heartily.  '  You  see,  lad,  what  Mr. 
Bradford  proposes  is  to  give  the  dog  a  reward,  and 
that  any  life  saver  is  entitled  to  if  it  be  offered 
voluntarily." 

"  It  would  please  me  if  the  gentleman  would  n't 
leave  money  for  Fluff,"  Benny  insisted.  '  It  don't 
seem  right  to  take  it  for  doing  anything  of  the 
kind." 

From  that  moment  Mr.  Bradford  ceased  to  press 
the  matter;  but  later  in  the  evening  he  had  a  long 
conversation  with  Tom  Downey,  and  those  who 


OFFICIAL  PERMISSION.  137 

accidentally  overheard  scraps  of  the  conversation 
understood  that  the  keeper  was  telling  Benny's 
pitiful  story. 

Fluff  was  not  interested  in  anything  which  was 
taking  place  around  him.  The  feast  of  sugar  which 
Joe  Gushing  had  set  out  was  so  tempting  and  so 
delicious  that  he  gave  heed  to  nothing  else. 

When  the  sweet  repast  had  come  to  an  end,  how- 
ever, the  dog  was  petted  by  first  one  and  then 
another  of  the  crew  as  he  had  never  been  before, 
and  Benny  said  laughingly,  as  he  took  the  little  fel- 
low in  his  arms  fully  half  an  hour  before  the  usual 
time  for  retiring. 

"  Fluff  will  grow  so  proud  that  he  '11  be  spoiled  if 
all  hands  praise  him  in  this  fashion.  He  'd  better 
go  to  bed,  and  I  '11  make  him  understand  that  it 
was  no  more  than  his  duty  to  bark  when  he  saw 
Mr.  Bradford  in  the  water." 

Then  the  boy  and  the  dog  disappeared  for  the 
night,  and  after  he  had  left  the  room  the  life  savers 
and  their  guest  held  a  long  consultation  of  a  busi- 
ness nature,  which  was  to  be  kept  a  profound  secret 
from  Benny  and  Fluff  until  all  the  details  had  been 
carried  into  effect. 

On  the  following  morning  immediately  after  break- 
fast, Mr.  Bradford  left  the  station  for  the  purpose  of 
hiring  some  one  of  the  farmers  nearby  to  carry  him 
into  the  city. 


138  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

Very  gravely  he  thanked  Benny  for  the  great  ser- 
vice which  had  been  rendered  him  by  Fluff,  urging 
the  boy  to  promise  that  he  would  apply  to  him  if  at 
any  time  in  the  future  he  should  need  assistance. 

To  this  the  lad  agreed,  and  when  the  gentleman 
had  taken  his  departure  said  confidentially  to  Sam 
Hardy : 

"  If  Fluff  and  I  are  to  be  surfmen  we  shan't  be 
obliged  to  beg  from  anyone,  and  I  'd  a  good  deal 
rather  earn  what  we  need  than  have  it  given  us." 

Well,  lad,  it  shall  go  your  way,  and  I  like  the 
idea  you  've  got  in  mind.  Whether  you  and  Fluff 
will  be  able  to  cut  much  of  a  figure  as  surfmen  is  a 
matter  which  need  n't  trouble  us  just  now,  for  I  '11 
guarantee  you  don't  come  to  want  while  this  crew 
holds  together." 

Benny  went  about  his  regular  duties  as  if  nothing 
out  of  the  ordinary  had  occurred,  and  Fluff,  believ- 
ing himself  safe  from  any  attack  by  Maje,  ran  to  and 
fro  over  the  snow-covered  rocks  until  his  pink  feet 
were  chilled  by  the  frost,  when  he  returned  and, 
standing  before  his  master,  held  up  first  one  and 
then  the  other  with  a  low  whine  which  told  of  his 
discomfort. 

The  cook  placed  a  chair  near  the  stove,  and, 
despite  Benny's  protestations,  insisted  that  Fluff 
should  occupy  it  whenever  he  had  been  so  foolish 
as  to  stay  out  of  doors  until  thoroughly  chilled. 


OFFICIAL  PERMISSION.  139 

"  You  have  no  business  to  play  on  the  rocks  while 
it  is  so  cold,"  Benny  said  reprovingly,  addressing 
himself  to  the  dog. 

"  It 's  the  nature  of  dogs  and  boys  to  be  foolish 
at  times,  Benny,  and  since  they  can't  be  expected 
to  have  better  sense  we  must  do  whatever  we  can  to 
repair  the  mischief.  Therefore  Fluff  C.  Foster  sits 
right  there  until  he  's  comfortable  once  more. 
There  's  nothing  to  be  done  around  the  kitchen  for 
the  next  two  or  three  hours,  and  seein'  how  you 
and  the  dog  are  bent  on  being  surfmen,  now  is  the 
chance  to  learn  the  duties  of  a  crew  when  there  's  a 
wreck  off  shore,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Three  Brothers. 
Every  man  needs  have  in  his  head  the  manoeuvres 
to  be  performed  at  such  a  time,  and  it 's  all  set  down 
here  in  the  regulations  under  the  head  of  '  Station 
Bill.'  " 

"What  do  you  mean  by  that,  sir?"  Benny  asked 
as  he  took  the  book  from  the  cook's  outstretched 
hand. 

"  It  shows  the  station  of  each  man  after  the 
beach-wagon  is  on  the  shore  ready  for  business. 
You  know  that  every  member  of  the  crew  has  a 
number.  Sam  Hardy  is  I  ;  Joe  Gushing,  2  ;  Robbins> 
3  ;  Sawyer,  4,  and  so  on.  Here,  under  the  same 
numbers  that  the  men  answer  to,  is  set  down  exactly 
what  must  be  done,  with  a  few  remarks  to  follow. 
Now,  since  all  that  must  be  repeated  at  drill,  it 


140  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

would  be  a  good  idea  if  you  stowed  it  away  in  youi 
head." 

Benny  began  to  read  eagerly,  understanding  that 
if  he  had  been  familiar  with  all  this  information 
when  the  Three  Brothers  went  ashore  he  possibly 
might  have  been  of  more  assistance,  and  until  the 
cook  called  him  to  assist  in  the  work  of  preparing 
dinner  he  read  and  re-read  the  following  lines: 

"  No.  I.  Place  gun  in  position  ;  provide  and  load 
with  shot ;  train  the  gun  ;  bend  the  shot-line  around 
the  whip  inside  block ;  tend  the  left  part  of  the  whip ; 
hold  the  hawser  for  No.  2  to  bend  on  the  whip; 
overhaul  back  of  the  whip,  and,  if  to  leeward,  un- 
bend ends  and  bend  outer  end  into  traveller-block; 
if  to  windward,  snap  traveller-block  onto  hawser, 
and  bend  outer  end  of  whip  into  traveller-block; 
man  fall  and  left  leg  of  crotch. 

"  No.  2.  Place  shot-line  box  in  position;  bend 
shot-line  into  shot;  train  the  gun;  take  a  half-hitch 
with  shot-line  over  tail  of  whip-block;  tend  right 
part  of  whip ;  bend  the  lee  part  of  whip  onto  hawser ; 
overhaul  back  whip,  and,  if  to  leeward,  unbend  ends 
and  bend  inner  end  into  traveller-block;  if  to  wind- 
ward, snap  traveller-block  onto  hawser  and  bend 
inner  end  of  whip  into  travelling-block;  man  fall 
and  right  leg  of  crotch. 

''  No.  3.  Place  shot-line  box  in  position;  stretch 
tackle  (outer  block);  ha.ul  left  part  of  whip  from 


OFFICIAL  PERMISSION.  14! 

reel;  if  to  windward,  reeve  end  of  whip  through 
sand-anchor  block;  otherwise,  bend  ends  of  whip 
together;  man  weather  part  of  whip  when  sending 
off  the  hawser;  haul  in  slack  of  hawser;  put  on 
strap  for  outer  block  of  tackle;  man  fall,  left  leg  of 
crotch,  and  am  shifting  man  on  the  whip. 

"  No.  4.  Unload  buoy  from  cart;  place  crotch, 
hawser,  and  buoy  in  position ;  stretch  tackle  (inner 
block);  haul  right  part  of  whip  from  reel;  if  to 
windward,  reeve  end  of  whip  through  sand-anchor 
block;  otherwise,  bend  ends  of  whip  together ;  man 
weather  part  of  whip  when  sending  off  the  hawser; 
haul  in  slack  of  hawser;  hook  on  outer  block  of 
tackle;  man  fall,  right  leg  of  crotch,  and  am  shifting 
man  on  the  whip. 

"  No.  5.  Unload  and  bury  sand-anchor;  man  the 
weather  part  of  whip  when  overhauling  off  the  reel 
and  sending  off  the  hawser;  haul  in  the  slack  of  the 
hawser  and  make  a  cat's-paw  in  the  end;  man  fall; 
belay  fall,  and  am  shifting  man  on  the  whip. 

"  No.  6.  Unload  and  bury  sand-anchor;  man  the 
weather  part  of  the  whip  when  overhauling  off  the 
reel;  lighten  the  hawser  to  captain;  snatch  bight  of 
hawser  into  sand-anchor  block ;  haul  in  slack  of  haw- 
ser; hook  inner  block  of  tackle  into  cat's-paw;  man 
fall,  centre  of  crotch,  and  am  shifting  man  on  the 
whip. 

"  No.  7.     Unload  shovel  and  pick;  assist  to  bury 


142  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

sand-anchor;  man  the  weather  part  of  whip  when 
overhauling  off  the  reel  and  sending  off  the  hawser; 
haul  in  slack  of  hawser;  man  fall,  centre  of  crotch- 
and  am  shifting  man  on  the  whip. 

4  The  exercise  must  be  considered  as  a  whole,  and 
when  a  man  has  performed  one  duty  he  will  proceed 
to  execute  the  next  assigned  him.  All  must  work 
together.  While  the  captain,  I,  and  2  are  opening 
communication  with  the  gun  and  shot-line,  3,  4,  5, 
and  6  will  have  the  hawser  and  its  connections  ready 
for  sending  off  and  hauling  taut. 

When  practising,  as  soon  as  the  gun  is  dis- 
charged, 6  will  go  to  the  pole  representing  the  wreck 
and  haul  off  and  make  fast  the  whip  and  hawser; 
unless  some  other  person  willing  to  perform  that 
duty  is  present,  4  throws  the  buoy  off  the  cart  that 
it  may  not  interfere  with  removing  the  gun  from  the 
cart. 

"  If  through  carelessness  the  shot-line  has  been 
faked  too  tightly  upon  the  pins,  instead  of  forcing 
it  off  the  pins  by  the  bottom  board,  which  is  liable 
to  split,  raise  the  frame  and  remove  a  few  of  the 
bottom  fakes  with  the  hand,  when  the  remainder 
will  fall  off  into  its  place  in  the  box. 

The  sand-anchor  must  be  opened,  its  sides  at 
right  angles  to  each  other,  and  buried  upon  its  flat 
in  a  narrow  trench  of  sufficient  depth,  say  two  feet^ 
and  the  trench  filled  in  solidly  about  the  anchor. 


OFFICIAL  PERMISSION.  143 

"  In  many  instances,  after  communication  is  made 
with  the  wreck,  as  many  as  two  or  three  hundred 
yards  of  shot-line  will  be  left  in  the  box.  The  cap- 
tain must  be  governed  by  circumstances  as  to  the 
best  method  of  handling  the  surplus  line.  If  there 
is  no  danger  of  the  wreck  going  to  pieces,  spare  line 
may  be  hauled  on  board  the  wreck,  the  shore  end 
being  bent  around  the  whip;  but  where  great  haste 
is  necessary  it  must  be  cut. 

"  Bending  the  bight  of  the  shot-line  around  the 
whip  is  not  recommended,  as  the  portion  inshore  is 
liable  to  foul  the  whip. 

"  Cases  may  occur  when,  instead  of  unreeling  the 
whole  whip  from  the  reel,  both  parts  of  the  whip 
must  be  cut  as  soon  as  the  whip-block  is  fast  on 
board  the  wreck.  Keepers  must  act  with  prompt- 
ness in  such  cases,  remembering  that  everything 
must  be  sacrificed  to  save  life. 

"  The  point  where  the  hawser  is  bent  into  the  ship 
must  be  as  far  as  possible  outside  of  where  the  ends 
of  the  whip  are  bent  together,  in  order  that  when 
the  hawser  reaches  the  wreck  the  whip  bend  will  be 
well  inshore,  out  of  the  reach  of  the  shipwrecked 
people,  for  should  they,  through  excitement  or 
ignorance,  cast  that  off  instead  of  the  hawser,  com- 
munication would  be  broken  and  much  delay 
result. 

'  The  whip  should  be  worked  moderately  slack, 


144  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

unless  extreme  cold  or  drifting  ice  makes  it  neces- 
sary that  it  should  be  kept  out  of  the  water. 

"  Instances  may  occur  when  the  wreck  is  breaking 
up  rapidly,  and  there  is  not  sufficient  time  to  send 
off  the  whip  and  hawser,  or  the  crew  are  too  much 
exhausted  to  haul  the  gear  off.  In  such  cases,  after 
communication  is  made  by  means  of  the  shot-line, 
cut  the  shot-line,  and  bend  the  shore  end  onto  a 
single  part  of  the  whip ;  when  the  end  of  the  whip 
has  reached  the  wreck,  bend  the  bight  of  the  whip 
into  the  slings  of  the  buoy  (block  removed),  and  let 
the  buoy  be  pulled  off  through  the  surf  to  the 
wreck." 

Benny  was  an  apt  pupil,  and  before  nightfall  could 
repeat  word  for  word  more  than  one-half  of  the 
Station  Bill.  It  was  his  purpose  to  commit  it  all  to 
memory,  but  he  was  interrupted  in  the  task  late  in 
the  afternoon  by  the  return  of  Joe  Gushing  from  the 
post-office,  and  it  was  such  a  noisy  home-coming 
that  every  member  of  the  crew  knew  what  he 
brought. 

All  save  the  lookout  were  in  the  building  engaged 
upon  various  trifling  duties,  when  a  series  of  yells 
from  the  outside  brought  the  men  to  their  feet,  and 
Sam  Hardy  cried : 

"  That  's  Joe  Gushing!  He  's  brought  the  mail, 
and  you  can  count  for  a  certainty  that  in  it  is 
the  answer  from  headquarters  in  regard  to  Benny." 


OFFICIAL  PERMISSION.  145 

Even  Keeper  Downey  found  it  difficult  to  remain 
calm,  for  that  Sam  had  guessed  correctly  could  be 
told  by  the  Indian  yells  to  which  Joe  was  giving 
vent,  and  it  is  little  wonder  that  the  crew,  instead 
of  waiting  for  his  entrance,  went  to  the  door  to  meet 
him,  realizing  as  they  did  that  in  a  few  moments 
would  be  known  the  views  of  the  Superintendent 
regarding  the  taking  on  of  this  new  member. 

Joe  was  coming  at  full  speed,  holding  high  above 
his  head  the  official-looking  envelope,  and,  as  if  be- 
lieving his  comrades  had  not  been  warned  regarding 
the  importance  of  what  he  brought,  he  shouted: 

'  Here  's  the  answer  from  the  Department!  It 
has  been  about  as  much  as  I  could  do  to  keep  my- 
self from  opening  it." 

Tom  Downey  stretched  out  his  hand,  and  there 
was  just  a  shadow  of  anxiety  to  be  seen  on  his  face 
as  he  took  the  missive. 

The  crew  gathered  around  him  ;  but  Benny, 
trembling  with  apprehension,  stood  a  short  distance 
away  holding  Fluff  in  his  arms. 

"  If  it  should  be  that  we  've  got  to  go  away  now 
when  things  are  fixed  so  nice,  we  'd  be  awful  sorry, 
Fluffy ;  but  we  '11  try  not  to  let  the  crew  know  we  're 
feeling  bad,"  he  whispered  to  the  dog  while  keeping 
his  eyes  fixed  upon  Sam  Hardy. 

Tom  Downey  was  too  impatient  to  permit  of  his 
reading  carefully  the  communication  from  the  Chief 


146  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

of  the  Service.  He  first  glanced  quickly  over 
the  letter,  catching  a  word  here  and  there,  until 
understanding  the  proposition,  when  he  cried 
joyously : 

It  's  all  right,  boys!     Benny  's  entitled  to  stay 
here  so  long  as  we  pay  his  bills!  " 

"  I  knew  the  Superintendent  was  n't  the  kind  of 
a  man  that  would  turn  a  cold  shoulder  on  a  lad  like 
him,"  Sam  Hardy  said  approvingly;  and  patting 
Benny  on  the  head,  he  added,  "  Now,  lad,  you  're 
regularly  one  of  us,  seein'  how  you  're  here  by 
authority,  an'  I  '11  venture  to  say  that  before  spring 
comes  you  '11  have  the  drill  at  your  tongue  and 
fingers'  ends  with  the  best  of  us." 

Benny,  burying  his  face  in  Fluff's  silken  hair, 
whispered  to  the  dog: 

'  We  're  awful  lucky,  Fluff,  and  we  '11  make  sure 
the  crew  won't  feel  sorry  because  of  helping  us." 

"  Ain't  crying  when  good  news  has  come,  are 
you,  lad  ?  "  Sam  asked,  raising  the  boy's  chin  until 
he  could  look  into  his  face. 

"  Indeed,  I  'm  not,  Mr.  Hardy.  I  just  wanted  to 
remind  Fluff  so  he  'd  never  forget  it,  that  we  was 
bound  to  work  mighty  hard  to  pay  all  hands  of  you 
for  being  so  good." 

"  I  reckon  that  part  of  it  will  be  all  right,  my  son. 
We  're  gettin*  full  value  for  all  we  give." 

That  which  added  to  Benny's  pleasure  was  the 


OFFICIAL  PERMISSION.  147 

fact  that  from  the  keeper  to  the  cook,  every  mem- 
ber of  the  crew  exhibited  the  liveliest  joy  because 
he  was  allowed  to  remain  at  the  station,  and  an 
evening  never  to  be  forgotten  by  the  lad  was  this 
which  followed  the  receipt  of  the  letter  from  head- 
quarters. 

Half  a  dozen  times  over  was  Tom  Downey  called 
upon  to  read  the  communication  from  their  Chief, 
and  if  it  be  true  that  a  person's  right  ear  tingles 
when  good  is  spoken  of  them,  the  Superintendent 
of  the  Life-Saving  Service  must  have  been  surprised 
because  of  the  warmth  of  that  organ. 

Even  amid  the  general  rejoicing  Benny  found 
opportunity  to  study  the  Regulations  and  observ- 
ing him  at  this  work  Sam  Hardy  proposed  that 
Keeper  Downey  write  an  additional  paragraph  to 
the  Station  Bill. 

Benny  must  have  a  regular  duty,  and  we  '11  call 
him  No.  8.  Set  down  exactly  what  part  he  is  to 
play,  an'  let  him  learn  it  with  the  rest." 

That  night  when  Benny,  with  Fluff  in  his  arms, 
stood  on  the  threshold  to  bid  his  kindly  guardians  a 
"  good-night,"  all  hands  replied  in  concert: 

"  Good-night,  No.  8." 

That  means  Fluff  as  well  as  me,"  Benny  cried 
with  a  laugh,  and  as  he  laid  down  to  sleep  that  night 
"  No.  8  "  was  an  exceedingly  happy  boy. 

On  the  following  morning  Benny  had  a  serious 


148  THE  LIFE   SAVERS, 

proposition  to  make  Sam  Hardy,  and  after  his  por- 
tion of  the  morning's  work  had  been  done  he  called 
the  surfman  aside. 

"  I  want  to  ask  a  favor  of  you,  Mr.  Hardy." 

"  Well,  lad,  what  is  it  ?" 

"  All  hands  call  me  No.  8,  so  that  proves  I  'm 
regularly  one  of  the  crew,  don't  it  ?  " 

"  Of  course  it  does,  Benny." 
Then  I  should  have  some  regular  work. " 

"  So  you  have,  my  lad.  You  're  doin'  as  much 
now  as  the  cook,  an'  some  of  the  boys  are  beginnin' 
to  think  you  can  take  his  place  next  season." 

"  My  work  in  the  kitchen  don't  count.  It  's  only 
enough  to  take  up  the  spare  time.  What  I  mean 
is,  I  ought  to  have  a  share  in  all  that  the  crew 
does." 

'  What  are  you  drivin'  at,  Benny  ?  Suppose  you 
talk  it  right  out  plain,  an'  then  I  '11  understand  the 
quicker." 

"  It  's  this,  Mr.  Hardy:  I  want  to  go  on  patrol 
duty  with  you  every  night,  no  matter  what  time  you 
start  out." 

"  Now  look  here,  Benny,  there  are  some  nights 
when  that  's  precious  hard  work,  and  almost  any 
time  in  the  winter  it  's  no  joke  to  turn  out,  say 
about  midnight,  an'  walk  this  blooming  shore  four 
hours." 

"  I  know  that,  sir;  but  yet  it  will  toughen  me  to 


OFFICIAL  PERMISSION.  149 

do  it,  and  after  a  spell  I  won't  mind  it  any  more  'n 
you  do." 

"  But  what  's  your  idea  in  doin'  such  work  ?  " 
"  I  want  to  grow  into  so  much  of  a  surfman  that 
I  can  see  at  night  the  same  as  you  do.     When  the 
Three  Brothers  was  sighted  I  could  n't  make  her  out 
at  all." 

"  It  's  trainin'  your  eyes  you  're  after,  eh  ?  " 
"  Yes,  sir,  perhaps  that  's  what  you  could  call  it." 
"  Well,  I  '11  talk  with  Downey,  and  see  what  he 
thinks  of  the  scheme,  although  I  'm  willing  to  say 
right  up  an'  down  now  that  I  don't  just  like  it.     The 
job  is  too  rough  for  a  little  chap  like  you." 

"  I  must  get  hardened  to  bad  weather,  and  the 
cold,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing  if  I  'm  goin'  to  stay 
in  the  life-saving  service." 

Sam  turned  away  with  a  laugh,  and  not  until 
evening  did  he  make  any  reply  to  the  request. 

Then,  when  the  hour  was  near  at  hand  for  him  to 
go  on  patrol,  he  said,  speaking  to  all  hands,  includ- 
ing Fluff's  master: 

"  Benny  claims  the  right  to  do  patrol  duty,  if  he  's 
No.  8  in  this  'ere  crew,  an'  the  keeper  has  given  per- 
mission for  him  to  act  as  my  apprentice,  exceptin' 
when  the  weather  is  too  rough.  Therefore,  Mr. 
Benjamin  H.  Foster,  you  '11  make  ready  for  a  four 
hours'  turn,  and  the  thermometer  is  standin'  well 
down  to  zero.  If  this  night's  work  don't  give  you 


I5O  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

a  different  idea  of  what  it  's  fitting  a  lad  should  dos 
then  I  '11  say  there  '11  be  no  use  in  our  tryin'  to  keep 
you  out  of  the  Service." 

If  Benny  suffered  from  the  cold  during  this  four 
hours'  tramp,  Sam  Hardy  was  none  the  wiser  re- 
garding it,  for  he  held  the  pace  regardless  of  rough 
ways  or  banks  of  snow,  plodding  sturdily  by  the 
surfman's  side  throughout  the  entire  time.  But  it 
was  observed  by  Sam  Hardy  that  on  their  return  to 
the  station  he  went  immediately  to  bed,  and  next 
morning,  in  relating  the  experiences  of  the  previous 
night  to  the  keeper  privately,  Sam  added : 

'  He  's  all  grit,  that  lad  is,  an'  when  he  's  older 
grown  I  allow  he  '11  be  an  ornament  to  this  'ere 
station." 

The  cook  declared,  after  dinner  had  been  eaten 
and  the  apartments  set  to  rights,  that  it  was  neces- 
sary for  Keeper  Downey  to  issue  a  positive  order 
preventing  No.  8  from  doing  more  than  his  share  of 
the  work,  and  Benny,  his  face  crimsoning  with 
pleasure,  would  have  turned  the  conversation  into 
some  other  channel. 

"  I  mean  what  I  say,"  the  cook  added  emphati- 
cally. "  There  's  to  be  a  regular  Kitchen  Station 
Bill  made  out  for  you,  else  before  many  days  I  '11 
find  myself  idle.  So  let  it  be  understood,  No.  8, 
that  you  're  only  to  do  so  much  of  the  work  as  be- 
longs to  your  part,  and  in  the  future  you  and  Fluff 


OFFICIAL   PERMISSION.  \%\ 

C.  Foster  will  have  longer  loafin'  spells.  If  you 
study  the  Regulations  after  dark,  I  reckon  it  will  be 
enough." 

Tom  Downey  had  begun  questioning  the  cook  as 
to  what  share  of  the  work  Benny  really  did,  when 
the  noise  of  bells  was  heard  outside,  and  a  moment 
later  came  a  knock  at  the  door  followed  almost  im- 
mediately by  the  entrance  of  Mr.  Bradford — he 
whom,  as  the  crew  claimed,  Fluff  had  rescued  from 
drowning. 

He  greeted  the  men  cheerily ;  had  a  kindly  word 
for  Benny;  but  took  Fluff  in  his  arms  petting  him 
affectionately. 

"  I  was  n't  satisfied  with  leaving  matters  as  they 
were  day  before  yesterday,  so  far  as  this  little  fellow 
was  concerned,"  he  said,  addressing  himself  to 
Keeper  Downey.  "  But  for  the  dog  I  should  have 
been  drowned,  and  as  Benny  refused  me  the  satis- 
faction of  repaying  Fluff,  I  claim  the  right  to  bestow 
upon  him  what  the  government  would  award  either 
of  you  for  a  timely  rescue  of  life." 

While  speaking  he  had  drawn  from  his  pocket  a 
daintily  fashioned  silver  collar  to  which  was  attached 
a  small  gold  token. 

"  It  is  a  medal  of  honor  made  from  a  coin,  and 
inscribed :  '  To  Fluff  C.  Foster  for  having  saved  the 
life  of  Francis  P.  Bradford,  January  2,  1894.'  That 
much  I  am  entitled  to  give,  regardless  of  what  the 


152  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

dog's  master  may  think,  and  I  only  hope  it  may  be 
in  my  power  at  some  future  time  to  bestow  upon 
Benny  a  more  substantial  token  of  regard." 

Mr.  Bradford  handed  the  collar  and  medal  to  the 
boy  as  he  ceased  speaking,  and  the  latter  gazed  alter- 
nately at  the  gift  and  the  dog,  who  was  sitting  bolt 
upright  on  his  hind  legs  as  if  begging  to  be  told  the 
cause  of  this  sudden  commotion. 

'Well?"  Sam  Hardy  said  interrogatively  as 
Benny  remained  silent.  '  Well,  No.  8,  ain't  there 
anything  more  to  it  ?  The  dog  is  coaxin'  you  to 
thank  the  gentleman." 

I  know  he  is,  Mr.  Hardy;  but  how  can  I  do 
it  ?  "  Benny  replied  with  a  long-drawn  sigh  of  de- 
light. "  It 's  splendid,  though  it  ain't  none  too  good 
for  a  dog  like  Fluff,  an'  I  'd  rather  he  'd  have  this 
than  all  the  money  in  the  world.  Just  to  think!  " 
and  the  lad  turned  to  address  the  entire  crew. 

Fluff  has  got  a  regular  life-saving  medal." 

"  It  's  a  big  thing,"  Keeper  Downey  replied  with 
a  nod  of  satisfaction,  "  an',  what  's  more,  Fluff  is 
the  only  one  of  this  crew  that  has  won  such  a  dis- 
tinction." 

;<  If  anything  was  needed,  after  the  letter  from  the 
Superintendent,  to  show  that  he  an'  I  were  members 
of  the  crew,  this  would  be  enough,  would  n't  it  ?  " 

"  It  's  as  good  as  a  commission  from  the  Treasury 
Department,"  Joe  Gushing  replied  gravely. 


OFFICIAL   PERMISSION.  153 

"  If  you  would  like  to  make  the  change,  I  can 
buy  you  something,  instead  of  spending  so  much 
money  for  the  dog,"  Mr.  Bradford  said,  with  a 
meaning  glance  at  the  men.  "  It  will  be  an  easy 
matter  to  exchange  the  collar  and  medal  for  cheaper 
metal,  and  give  you  the  difference." 

Take  this  away  from  Fluff  ?  "  Benny  cried  in 
alarm.  '  Why,  I  would  n't  have  it  done  for  the 
world!  Now  I  'm  a  regular  member  of  this  crew  I 
don't  need  anything,  an'  even  if  I  did,  he  should 
have  the  best,  because  he  's  the  one  who  saved  your 
life,  an'  I  '11  get  a  heap  of  pleasure  out  of  looking 
at  it." 

"  I  have  also  sent  out  here  ten  pounds  of  sugar  in 
lumps,  so  that  you  may  remind  him  of  me  at  least 
once  every  day,"  Mr.  Bradford  said,  apparently 
getting  as  much  pleasure  out  of  the  presentation  as 
did  Benny,  "  and  because  of  thus  rewarding  Fluff, 
I  want  you  to  do  me  a  favor." 

What  is  it,  sir  ?  "  Benny  asked  in  surprise. 

"  I  want  the  privilege  oi  giving  you  a  full  suit  of 
clothes.  Here  is  an  order  on  a  tailor,  who  will  make 
whatever  you  may  decide  upon." 

While  speaking  the  gentleman  had  pressed  into 
Benny's  hand  a  slip  of  paper,  and  before  the  lad 
could  reply  Sam  Hardy  cried  in  delight : 

Of  course  No.  8  will  do  you  the  favor  of  takin' 
it,  an',  what  's  more,  it  's  a  mighty  lucky  thing  for 


154  THE  LI^E   SAVERS. 

him.  Here  he  has  just  been  made  a  member  of  the 
crew,  but  has  n't  got  a  uniform  to  wear  when  he 
goes  into  the  city.  That  order,  Mr.  Bradford,  is 
just  the  ticket,  and  with  Fluff  C.  Foster  rigged  out 
in  a  solid  silver  collar  with  a  gold  medal  of  honor, 
and  Benjamin  H.  Foster  in  a  regulation  suit,  brass 
buttons  an'  all,  this  'ere  station  will  blossom  out  in 
regular  shape." 

Benny  was  won  by  the  idea  of  wearing  a  uniform 
like  his  comrades;  but  he  looked  toward  Mr.  Dow- 
ney as  if  asking  his  permission  to  accept  the  gift. 

"  Take  it,  my  lad,  and  thank  the  gentleman  by  so 
doing,"  the  keeper  said  with  a  smile.  '  What  's 
more,  you  shall  go  into  the  city  with  Sam  Hardy 
to-morrow  morning  and  be  measured  for  the  uni- 
form." 

There  was  a  wondrously  bright  gleam  in  Benny's 
eyes  as,  taking  the  dog  suddenly  in  his  arms,  he 
said  to  the  generous  visitor: 

"  We  thank  you  awfully  much,  Mr.  Bradford,  an' 
you  may  be  sure  Fluff  will  never  do  anything  to 
make  you  ashamed  of  having  given  him  such  a 
beautiful  collar  and  medal." 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE    UNIFORM. 

Mr.  Bradford  was  in  no  haste  to  return  home  on 
this  evening  when  he  had  decorated  Fluff  and  pro- 
vided Benny  with  the  means  of  getting  a  uniform. 

He  had  come  to  assure  the  crew  that  he  fully 
appreciated  the  discipline  and  prompt  attention  to 
duty  which  made  possible  his  rescue,  for  had  thirty 
seconds  been  wasted  after  Sam  Hardy's  summons, 
the  boat  would  have  arrived  too  late. 

"  I  never  before  fully  realized  the  value  of  life- 
saving  stations  or  the  heroism  of  life-saving  crews," 
he  said,  addressing  Keeper  Downey.  "  Perhaps  it 
was  because  I  never  knew  what  perfection  of  dis- 
cipline and  drill  was  to  be  found  among  the  men.  I 
have  often  wondered  why  this  service  should  be 
under  the  supervision  of  the  Treasury  Department, 
when  one  would  naturally  expect  it  to  be  a  branch 
of  the  navy." 

"  The  reason  is,  Mr.  Bradford,  that  a  deep-water 
sailor,  as  a  rule,  knows  very  little  about  surf  work," 


156  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

Tom  Downey  replied  quickly,  and  with  considerable 
warmth.  "  You  will  find  that  among  all  the  marin- 
ers we  aid,  no  more  than  one  out  of  every  hundred 
has  had  any  experience  in  making  a  landing  on  a 
shore  like  this  when  the  water  is  rough,  and  it  's 
not  to  be  expected  of  them.  The  life-saving  service 
is  recruited  from  shore  fishermen— men  who  are  ac- 
customed to  going  back  and  forth  through  the  surf 
in  all  kinds  of  weather.  Put  the  best  sailor  that 
ever  jockeyed  a  spar  into  our  surf-boat,  and  he  'd 
be  out  of  his  element,  as  you  can  well  understand. 
Therefore  the  life-saving  service  is  really  the  duty  of 
landsmen,  and  has  nothing  to  do  with  such  as  the 
navy  would  be  forced  to  employ." 

Before  the  visitor  could  reply  Sam  Hardy  began 
making  preparations  to  go  on  patrol,  and  Benny  felt 
it  his  duty  to  accompany  him,  particularly  after 
having  begged  permission  to  share  the  labor,  al- 
though he  was  eager  to  hear  the  .remainder  of  the 
conversation. 

'  There  's  no  need  for  you  to  go  out  this  night, 
Benjamin,  and  I  think  you  are  called  on  to  stay  here 
till  Mr.  Bradford  leaves,"  Sam  said,  observing  the 
expression  on  the  boy's  face. 

No.  8  had  no  idea  of  allowing  inclination  to  inter- 
fere with  the  duties  he  had  assumed,  especially  now 
that  he  had  considered  himself  a  regularly  enrolled 
member  of  the  crew. 


THE  UNIFORM.  157 

"  Mr.  Bradford  knows  that  somebody  must  go  on 
patrol,  and  I  '11  never  be  trusted  alone  if  I  don't 
hurry  up  with  the  learning,"  Benny  replied 
promptly,  putting  on  the  pea-jacket  and  sou'-wester 
Joe  Gushing  had  given  him. 

"  You  will  come  and  see  me  to-morrow  ?"  the 
visitor  asked,  and  Sam  replied  for  the  lad : 

'  You  can  count  on  his  givin'  you  a  call,  Mr. 
Bradford,  although  we  won't  have  overly  much 
time  to  spend  in  neighboring." 

Then  the  two  shook  hands  with  the  gentleman, 
and  went  out  into  the  night  on  their  errand  of  mercy. 

Benny  was  unusually  quiet  as  they  walked  along 
the  bluffs,  glancing  from  time  to  time  over  the  placid 
waters  illumined  by  the  moon,  and  after  ten  minutes 
or  more  had  passed  in  silence  Sam  asked : 

'  What  has  gone  wrong  with  you,  No.  8  ?  Ain't 
a  solid  silver  collar  rich  enough  for  Fluff  C.  Foster, 
or  did  you  think  the  medal  might  have  been  bigger  ?" 

"  I  'd  be  terribly  ashamed  of  myself  to  think  any- 
thing like  that,  Mr.  Hardy.  Of  course  the  collar 
and  medal  ain't  any  better  than  Fluff  deserves;  but 
they  're  a  good  deal  nicer  than  I  ever  thought  he  'd 
get,  and  it  makes  me  feel  fine  to  think  of  his  having 
them." 

'  Then  what  is  keepin'  you  so  glum  ?  You 
have  n't  opened  your  mouth  since  we  left  the 
station." 


158  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

1  That  is  'cause  I  've  been  thinking." 

"  About  what,  No.  8  ?  " 

"  I  'm  afraid  I  shan't  do  enough,  and  that  the 
crew  will  find  out  I  ain't  coming  up  to  the  praise 
I  'm  getting.  Everybody  has  been  so  good  to  me 
since  the  ship  was  wrecked,  that  I  can't  even  begin 
to  pay  it  back." 

'  There  is  n't  any  danger  so  long  as  you  have 
such  thoughts  in  your  head,  Benjamin.  I  don't 
believe  in  praisin'  boys,  as  a  general  thing,  because 
it  's  apt  to  spoil  'em ;  but  you  don't  seem  to  be  one 
of  that  kind.  Keep  on  as  you  've  started,  No.  8, 
and  I  guarantee  all  hands  of  us  will  be  satisfied." 

Then  Sam  Hardy  told  Benny  of  a  boy  who  had 
been  saved  from  a  wreck  two  years  previous,  and 
who  was  anything  rather  than  an  agreeable  com- 
panion, following  this  story  with  another,  until  the 
four  hours  passed  so  quickly  that  it  seemed  to  No. 
8  as  if  they  had  not  been  on  duty  one  quarter  of  the 
required  time. 

Mr.  Bradford  had  started  for  home  nearly  two 
hours  before  Benny  and  Sam  came  in,  their  night's 
work  finished,  and  no  one  except  Fluff  was  awake. 

He  greeted  them  with  his  shrill  barking,  which 
Benny  checked  quickly  lest  the  others  should  be 
awakened,  and  when  the  two  whose  time  for  duty 
had  come  were  aroused,  Sam  whispered : 

"  Now  we  '11  turn  in,  No.  8,  and  see  to  it  that 


THE  UNIFORM.  159 

you  're  up  bright  and  early  to-morrow.  You  're 
not  to  do  any  work  in  the  kitchen,  but  will  eat 
breakfast  with  the  crew,  so  that  we  shan't  be  de- 
layed in  setting  out." 

Benny  did  not  obey  this  command  strictly.  Next 
morning  when  the  cook  slipped  out  of  bed  softly  to 
avoid  disturbing  the  others,  the  lad  heard  and  fol- 
lowed him  without  delay. 

"  You  could  have  had  a  good  half-hour's  sleep 
before  breakfast  will  be  ready,  No.  8." 

"  Yes,  sir;  but  I  would  n't  have  done  my  share 
of  the  work  here,"  Benny  replied  hesitatingly,  for 
the  cook  had  spoken  sharply. 

"  Members  of  the  crew  who  have  a  day's  liberty 
are  not  expected  to  do  anything  around  the  station, 
and  you  're  down  for  leave  of  absence  from  mid- 
night." 

"  That  's  no  reason  why  I  should  n't  do  what  I 
can  before  we  leave,"  Benny  replied  stoutly  as  he 
set  about  the  usual  morning  duties,  and  until  break- 
fast was  on  the  table  he  insisted  upon  aiding  the 
cook. 

Then  Sam  sternly  ordered  him  to  "  knock-off" 
and  make  ready  for  the  journey. 

We  've  got  a  five-mile  pull  before  us,  an'  I  'm 
not  of  the  mind  to  spend  our  entire  day  at  the  oars." 

Until  this  moment  Benny  had  supposed  they 
would  walk  from  the  station  to  the  city,  and  on 


l6o  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

learning  that  Sam  intended  to  make  the  journey  in 
the  dory  which  the  crew  used  for  fishing,  a  certain 
wistful  expression  came  into  his  eyes. 

"  Now  what  have  you  got  on  your  mind,  No. 
8  ?  "  Sam  asked,  quick  to  note  the  change  on  the 
boy's  face. 

"  I  was  wondering — I  thought — I  don't  suppose 
you  'd  want  to  take  Fluff,  Mr.  Hardy.  He  's  been 
in  a  boat  very  often,  and  knows  how  to  behave 
himself." 

"  Afraid  Maje  will  make  trouble  if  you  leave  him 
behind  ?  " 

"  No,  sir,  it  was  n't  that;  but  you  see  he  won't 
have  many  chances  to  go  away  from  the  station, 
and  I  want  him  to  show  his  collar  and  medal  when- 
ever it  's  possible.  He  had  a  bath  yesterday,  and  is 
as  clean  as  a  whistle." 

There  's  no  reason  why  he  should  n't  go,  an' 
I  'm  not  certain  but  Mr.  Bradford  would  like  to  see 
him  rigged  out  in  his  finery." 

Benny  no  longer  gave  any  heed  to  his  breakfast, 
but  spent  all  the  remaining  time  in  combing  Fluff's 
silken  hair,  and  when  Sam  Hardy  announced  that 
he  was  ready  to  start,  the  dog  was  looking  his  best, 
with  the  medal  hanging  in  the  most  conspicuous 
position. 

He  's  looking  a  good  deal  finer  than  you  are, 
No.  8,"  Joe  Gushing  said  with  a  laugh.  "  That 


THE  UNIFORM.  l6l 

gorgeous  collar  don't  correspond  with  your  old  pea- 
jacket  and  sou '-wester." 

"  It  don't  make  any  difference  about  me,  so  long 
as  he  's  the  way  Mrs.  Clark  always  wanted  to  see 
him,"  Benny  replied,  choking  back  a  sob  as  his 
mind  thus  involuntarily  went  into  the  past.  "  Folks 
would  n't  notice  a  boy  like  me,  but  they  always 
stare  when  Fluff  walks  along  looking  like  every- 
thing belonged  to  him." 

"  Wait  till  you  're  togged  out  in  a  uniform,  No. 
8,  and  then  I  '11  answer  for  it  you  get  as  much  at- 
tention from  the  people  as  does  Fluff.  I  'm  going 
into  town  with  you  then,  and  what  a  dash  we  '11 
cut!  " 

Joe  Gushing  laughed  in  anticipation  of  that  mo- 
ment, and  while  he  was  thus  amused  Sam  beckoned 
Benny  to  follow  him. 

The  dory  was  lying  near  the  water's  edge,  and  it 
only  required  that  she  should  be  launched  in  order 
to  begin  the  journey. 

Fluff  took  his  place  in  the  stern-sheets  as  if  ac- 
customed to  this  method  of  travelling;  Sam  took  up 
the  oars,  refusing  most  decidedly  Benny's  proposal 
that  he  be  allowed  to  do  his  share  of  the  rowing, 
and  as  the  boat  glided  out  of  the  little  cove  the 
crew  at  the  station  cheered  right  heartily. 

It  sounds  as  if  they  were  glad  to  be  rid  of  us," 
Benny  suggested,  and  Sam  replied : 


1 62  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

1  That  's  their  way  of  showin'  that  they  '11  be 
pleased  to  see  you  back.  I  might  leave  a  dozen 
times,  an'  nobody  would  so  much  as  poke  his  nose 
out  of  the  door  to  see  if  I  got  away  all  right." 

"  But  they  count  on  your  coming  home  just  the 
same,"  Benny  replied  earnestly,  as  if  thinking  his 
comrade  might  be  jealous  because  more  attention 
was  bestowed  upon  a  newcomer  than  on  himself. 

"  I  reckon  they  do,  No.  8;  but  an  old  fellow  like 
me  don't  cut  any  such  figger  as  does  a  boy,  an'  a 
dog  what's  wearin'  a  medal  of  honor,"  and  Sam 
Hardy  laughed  heartily,  whereat  Benny  began  to 
understand  that  no  jealousy  lurked  in  his  heart. 

A  most  enjoyable  voyage  did  this  prove  to  be  for 
No.  8  and  Fluff,  even  though  the  temperature  was 
many  degrees  below  freezing  and  the  wind  piercing 
cold.  Sam  Hardy  did  not  appear  to  be  in  any  very 
great  hurry  to  reach  the  city,  once  he  had  put  off 
from  the  station,  but  told  stories  of  heroism  dis- 
played by  his  comrades,  at  the  same  time  that  he 
fed  the  dog  liberally  with  lumps  of  sugar. 

'  We  're  out  for  a  holiday,"  he  said  when  Benny 
suggested  that  it  was  not  well  for  Fluff  to  have  such 
a  feast,  "  an'  I  'm  countin'  on  his  enjoyin'  it  as  well 
as  us." 

"  But  it  may  make  him  sick." 

'  Then  it  will  teach  him  not  to  be  so  greedy 
another  time." 


THE  UNIFORM.  163 

"  I  'm  afraid  he  won't  remember  it." 

"  Most  likely  not,  No.  8,  most  likely  not.  Boys 
an'  dogs  are  much  alike  in  that  particular — they 
won't  learn  by  experience.  Did  you  ever  think 
what  a  wise  lad  he  would  be  who  was  eager  to  learn 
by  the  experience  of  others  ?  " 

Benny  was  considerably  puzzled  by  this  remark, 
and  the  surfman  continued  gravely: 

Look  at  it  in  this  light,  lad:  you  've  been 
thrown  with  them  as  were  older  than  yourself  a  good 
portion  of  the  time  you  've  lived  in  this  world. 
You  've  heard  of  this  one  's  havin'  what  people  call 
'  bad  luck,'  or  of  that  one's  doin'  some  foolish  thing. 
Now  suppose  you  'd  stored  all  that  up  in  your 
memory.  Would  n't  you  be  able  to  steer  clear  of 
the  first  man's  bad  luck,  an'  keep  yourself  from 
committin'  the  same  folly  you  condemned  in  the 
other  ?  " 

Benny  nodded  gravely.  This  proposition  was 
something  entirely  new  to  him,  and  he  believed  it 
to  be  a  most  valuable  suggestion. 

A  boy  who  was  willing  to  learn  from  the  experi- 
ence of  others  would  soon  be  wiser  than  the  average 
run  of  lads,  and,  what  's  more,  he  'd  save  himself 
many  a  sore  time ;  but  it  ain't  done  by  young  people 
any  more  than  Fluff  will  remember,  in  case  he  's 
sick  to-morrow,  that  the  next  time  sugar  's  offered 
him  he  should  be  less  greedy." 


164  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

Benny  was  so  interested  in  this  method  of  acquir- 
ing knowledge  that  he  continued  to  discuss  the  mat- 
ter until  the  dory  was  made  fast  alongside  one  of  the 
city  piers,  and  Sam  said  laughingly : 

"  I  reckon  we  'd  best  not  spend  any  more  of  our 
time  discussin'  the  matter;  it  '11  serve  us  out  on 
patrol  bright  nights,  when  there  's  little  call  to  keep 
a  very  sharp  lookout.  Now  we  're  bound  for  Mr. 
Bradford's  office,  and  then  to  the  tailor's.  You  '11 
be  a  terrible  swell  before  many  days,  No.  8." 

'  I  'm  not  going  to  wear  the  uniform  except  when 
I  go  into  the  city,  so  there  's  no  danger  of  my  doing 
very  much  swelling,"  Benny  replied  with  a  laugh, 
and  then  Sam  Hardy  was  ready  to  lead  the  way  to 
the  sportsman's  office. 

No.  8  did  not  dare  allow  Fluff  to  walk  through 
the  streets  lest  some  evil-disposed  dog  should  pick 
a  quarrel  with  him ;  but  he  took  good  care  both  the 
collar  and  medal  could  be  seen  while  the  little  fellow 
was  in  his  arms. 

Their  reception  by  Mr.  Bradford  was  exceedingly 
friendly — almost  too  much  so,  Benny  thought, 
when  the  gentleman  insisted  on  introducing  them 
to  his  acquaintances,  and  telling  the  story  of  the 
rescue. 

The  dog  was  petted  as  perhaps  he  never  had  been 
before,  which  was  pleasing  to  his  master;  but,  as 
Benny  afterward  told  Sam  Hardy  confidentially, 


THE  UNIFORM.  1 6$ 

there  was  no  reason  why  he  should  be  praised  for 
what  Fluff  C.  Foster  had  done. 

Then  the  little  party  went  to  the  tailor,  who  was 
ordered  to  make  a  uniform  exactly  like  the  one  worn- 
by  Sam  Hardy,  and,  in  addition,  a  second  suit  of 
clothes  was  decided  upon,  so  that  the  boy  might 
have  a  proper  outfit  when  the  time  came  for  him  to 
go  to  school. 

The  surfman,  No.  8,  and  Fluff  dined  with  Mr. 
Bradford  on  this  day,  after  which  they  were  treated 
to  a  carriage  ride,  and  so  eager  was  the  gentleman 
to  give  them  pleasure  that  but  for  Sam  Hardy's 
persistency  in  setting  out  on  the  return  voyage  at 
an  early  hour,  they  might  not  have  succeeded  in  re- 
gaining the  station  until  late  in  the  night. 

"  It  has  been  what  you  might  call  a  great  day, 
No.  8,"  the  surfman  said  when  they  had  bidden 
their  entertainer  adieu  on  the  pier  and  the  dory  was 
out  of  the  harbor.  "  I  'm  not  certain  but  that  two 
such  outings  as  this  would  spoil  you  an'  Fluff  C. 
Foster  for  work  at  the  station." 

'  We  've  had  a  good  time,  and  Mr.  Bradford  has 
been  very  kind,"  Benny  said  thoughtfully;  "  but 
I  'm  not  so  sure  as  I  'd  like  to  try  it  over  again  very 
soon." 

"Why  not  ?" 

Because,  in  the  first  place,  I  don't  deserve  it, 
even  if  Fluff  does;  and  then  again,  it  ain't  very  nice 


1 66  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

to  have  folks  praising   you    up  when  there  's  no 
reason  for  it." 

'  Then  you  don't  think  Mr.  Bradford  had  any 
right  to  lay  it  on  quite  so  thick  about  what  you  'd 
done  ?  " 

'  No,  because  it  was  n't  altogether  true.  Any 
fellow  who  was  all  alone  in  this  world  with  a  dog 
like  Fluff,  would  work  mighty  hard  if  folks  gave 
him  a  home,  same  's  the  crew  have  given  me,  so 
what  I  do  don't  count.  Now  if  Mr.  Bradford  had 
told  the  people  we  met  how  good  you  all  were  to 
take  us,  I  'd  had  a  much  better  time." 

'  You  're  too  modest,  Benjamin,  an'  that  's  a 
fault  every  boy  don't  have,  I  'm  sorry  to  say.  Now 
about  that  uniform  of  yours.  You  did  n't  so  much 
as  ask  me  when  it  was  to  be  sent  out  to  the  station." 

"  It  would  n't  have  looked  very  well  to  be  in  a 
hurry  when  some  one  makes  me  such  a  splendid 
present." 

"  Oh,  it  would  n't,  eh  ?  Well,  the  toggery 
was  n't  for  me,  therefore  I  had  no  call  to  be  so 
bashful.  The  uniform  is  to  be  ready  in  four  days, 
and  about  that  time  Tom  Downey  will  be  goin'  into 
town.  The  other  clothes  are  to  .be  finished  in  a 
week.  When  they  come  we  '11  —  Hello,  what  's 
that  steamer  layin'  off  there  for  ?  " 

The  dory  was  almost  within  sight  of  the  station 
when  Sam  Hardy  ceased  rowing  very  suddenly  to 


THE  UNIFORM.  1 67 

gaze  at  a  steamer  which  appeared  to  be  at  anchor  a 
mile  or  more  off  the  shore,  and  Benny  was  wholly 
at  a  loss  to  understand  why  his  companion  had  be- 
come so  thoroughly  excited. 

"  She  don't  seem  to  be  in  any  trouble,"  he  ven- 
tured to  say,  and  Sam  settling  down  to  the  oars  as 
if  believing  he  had  a  severe  task  before  him,  replied  : 

"  Her  captain  is  huntin'  for  it,  if  he  comes  to 
anchor  in  that  place  without  precious  good  reasons. 
A  shoal  makes  out  just  there,  an'  I  've  seen  two 
good  vessels  go  to  pieces  on  it.  That  steamer  is 
aground,  Benny!  " 

There  was  nothing  startling  to  the  lad  in  this  an- 
nouncement. The  craft  lay  as  if  afloat;  the  wind 
was  not  strong  enough  to  raise  a  very  heavy  sea, 
and  nothing  indicated  any  sudden  change  in  the 
weather. 

I  '11  admit  that  it  don't  mean  very  much  now, 
lad,"  the  surfman  continued  as  if  reading  his  com- 
panion's thoughts;  "  but  on  this  coast  at  this  time 
of  the  year,  no  one  can  say  when  everything  may  be 
changed.  There!  The  captain  is  beginning  to 
understand  that  matters  ain't  altogether  lovely." 

The  steamer's  whistle  had  begun  to  sound  a 
whistle  that  help  of  some  kind  was  required,  and 
Benny  believed  the  captain  was  calling  upon  the 
life-saving  crew  for  assistance,  until  Sam  said : 

She  's  whistlin'  for  a  tug;  but  with  the  wind  in 


1 68  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

this  quarter  it  ain't  likely  to  do  much  good,  unless 
she  is  sighted  by  one." 

"  Our  crew  will  see  her." 

Not  before  sunset,  when  the  patrol  goes  out; 
but  they  '11  hear  the  whistle,  an'  find  her  by  that 
means." 

Sam  was  rowing  at  his  best  speed,  and  Benny 
watched  eagerly  for  the  appearance  of  the  life-saving 
crew,  but  no  one  had  appeared  in  sight  when  the 
dory  was  brought  within  hailing  distance  of  the 
stranded  steamer. 

The  rail  was  lined  with  heads,  showing  that  she 
had  passengers  aboard,  and  on  the  bridge  was  a 
group  of  officers. 

Boat  ahoy!  "  some  one  shouted,  and  Sam  re- 
plied, standing  up  as  he  did,  so  that  his  uniform 
might  be  seen. 

"  Are  you  a  member  of  a  life-saving  crew  ?  " 

Ay,  sir;  the  station  is  a  mile  and  a  half  away 
around  the  point.     Are  you  in  need  of  assistance  ?  " 
We  want  tugs.     Can  you  telephone  from  your 
quarters  ?  " 

"  Ay,  sir." 

"  Ask  that  two  steamers  be  sent  at  once.  We  're 
not  heavily  aground  ;  but  to  such  an  extent  that  our 
engines  are  of  no  avail." 

Shall  w-e  take  off  your  passengers  ?  " 

"  There  's  no  need  of  it.     We  can  lie  here  easily 


THE  UNIFORM.  169 

enough,   if  it  is  n't  possible  to  haul  us  off  before 
morning." 

"  I  'm  not  so  certain  of  that,  sir.  The  tide  will 
fall  twelve  inches  or  more  before  the  ebb,  and  the 
water  hereabouts  is  rough." 

"  Send  a  message  for  me  to  the  city,  and  that  will 
be  enough,"  the  master  replied  curtly,  and  Sam 
took  up  the  oars  again,  pulling  vigorously  toward 
the  station. 

"  There  's  what  you  call  a  pig-headed  captain," 
he  said  when  the  dory  was  some  distance  away. 
"  It  stands  to  reason  he  does  n't  know  anything 
about  this  coast,  else  he  'd  never  gone  on  that  shoal, 
an'  he  had  too  good  an  opinion  of  his  own  abilities 
to  so  much  as  look  at  the  chart.  There  are  no  tugs 
around  here  that  can  pull  him  off  before  high  tide, 
and  in  the  meanwhile  he  's  likely  to  find  that  the 
steamer  won't  lay  as  easy  as  he  's  countin'  on." 

"There  comes  our  surf-boat!"  Benny  cried, 
pointing  toward  a  projecting  cliff  which  hid  the 
station  from  view,  and  around  which  the  life-sav- 
ing crew  were  just  appearing.  I  knew  they  'd 
answer  the  steamer's  signal  as  soon  as  it  could  be 
done." 

Of  course  they  would,  lad,  there  are  no  sleepy 
heads  among  us,  if  I  do  say  it.  Tom  Downey  will 
read  that  captain  a  lecture,  I  reckon." 

The  dory  and  the  surf-boat  were  soon  side  by  side, 


170  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

and  the  keeper  asked  for  information  concerning  the 
steamer. 

Sam  repeated  the  conversation  he  had  had  with 
the  captain,  and  Mr.  Downey  replied : 

"  Send  the  message  as  soon  as  you  get  back,  and 
then  go  on  duty  at  once,  taking  up  a  station  directly 
opposite  where  the  steamer  lies.  Flash  the  Coston 
twice  if  she  's  likely  to  need  us  between  now  and 
midnight.  Joe  Gushing  shall  cover  the  remainder 
of  your  beat." 

Then  word  was  given  for  the  crew  to  "  pull 
away,"  and  Sam  bent  to  his  oars  as  if  time  was  very 
precious. 

"  Does  Mr.  Downey  think  it  is  possible  the 
steamer  can  come  to  any  harm  in  such  pleasant 
weather  ?  "  Benny  asked  in  surprise. 

"  There  's  no  telling  what  may  happen,  lad,  and 
Downey  don't  intend  to  get  himself  into  trouble  if 
it  can  be  prevented." 

'  What  trouble  can  come  to  him  if  the  captain  of 
the  steamer  won't  allow  the  crew  to  do  anything  ?  " 

"  In  case  there  should  be  loss  of  life,  even  after 
what  's  been  said  and  done,  all  hands  of  us  would 
be  called  for  an  explanation  as  to  why  we  did  n't  do 
our  duty.  Let  any  trouble  come  to  that  steamer, 
an'  we  're  bound  to  stand  an  investigation,  for  the 
Superintendent  of  the  Service  is  mighty  sharp  in 
such  affairs." 


THE  UNIFORM.  \J\ 

Benny  could  not  understand  how  it  might  be  pos- 
sible to  blame  a  crew  who  had  not  been  allowed  to 
give  their  services,  and  Sam  was  too  deeply  intent 
on  the  business  in  hand  to  go  into  any  lengthy 
explanation. 

"  I  '11  figger  it  all  out  for  you  some  time  when 
we  're  on  patrol,"  he  said,  and  No.  8  understood 
from  the  tone  of  his  voice  that  the  surfman  was  not 
inclined  to  indulge  further  in  conversation. 

When,  ten  minutes  later,  the  dory  was  pulled  into 
the  little  cove  near  the  station,  Sam  Hardy  landed 
hurriedly,  calling  out  to  Benny  as  he  did  so: 

Make  her  fast,  lad,  and  follow  me.  I  '11  set  the 
cook  to  work  on  our  supper,  for  we  're  not  likely  to 
have  another  chance  for  anything  to  eat  till  mid- 
night." 

No.  8  did  as  he  was  bidden,  and  when  he  entered 
the  station  Sam  was  just  coming  from  the  telephone. 
There  's  little  show  of  getting  two  tugs  out  to 
the  steamer  much  before  high  water,  and  I  'm 
thinkin'  the  captain  may  be  obliged  to  call  on  us 
after  all,  unless  he  's  shipped  a  different  set  of  pas- 
sengers than  usually  travel.  Turn  to  an'  fill  your- 
self up  with  coffee  and  hearty  food,  Benjamin,  for 
we  've  got  a  long  stretch  of  patrol  duty  ahead,  if 
nothing  worse  comes  of  this  night's  business. 


CHAPTER  XL 

THE   STRANDED   STEAMER. 

Benny  delayed  in  carrying  out  the  instructions 
given  by  Sam  Hardy  only  sufficiently  long  to  re- 
move Fluff's  collar  and  medal,  and  after  that  but 
little  time  was  spent  in  "  filling  himself  up,"  because 
the  excitement  had  driven  away  what  small  remnant 
of  appetite  was  left  after  the  feast  which  Mr.  Brad- 
ford had  set  before  them. 

Fluff,  wearied  perhaps  by  the  attentions  bestowed 
upon  him  in  the  city,  was  perfectly  willing  to  occupy 
the  bed  which  the  cook  made  up  for  him  near  the 
kitchen  stove,  and  failed  to  exhibit  any  sign  of  dis- 
pleasure when  his  young  master  left  him. 

"  I  guess  he  's  had  all  the  excursion  he  wants  in 
one  day,"  Benny  said  as  he  followed  Sam  out  into 
the  fast  gathering  gloom,  and  the  latter  replied 
sagely : 

"  Dogs  are  much  like  boys,  No.  8,  as  I  've  said 
before.  They  think  of  nothin'  but  pleasure  while 
the  fun  is  goin'  on,  an'  when  it  's  over  are  disposed 

172 


THE   STRANDED   STEAMER.  173 

to  pay  more  attention  to  their  own  weariness  than 
duty." 

"  But  Fluff  could  n't  help  staying  in  the  city  just 
as  long  as  we  were  there,"  Benny  said,  as  if  think- 
ing some  apology  was  needed  for  the  dog.  "  He 
would  have  been  willing  enough  to  come  home  if 
we  'd  shown  him  the  way." 

"  I  dare  say  he  would,  Benny,  I  dare  say  he 
would;  and  now  we  '11  turn  our  attention  to  the 
work  before  us  instead  of  givin'  any  heed  to  boys  or 
dogs.  I  'm  thinkin'  the  captain  of  that  steamer 
will  change  his  mind  about  landing  the  passengers 
when  he  learns  that  the  tugs  can't  get  to  him  for 
quite  a  spell,  an*  after  he  takes  note  of  that  fog-bank 
to  seaward." 

Benny  gazed  in  the  direction  indicated  by  the 
surfman's  outstretched  hand,  but  failed  to  distin- 
guish anything  which  betokened  fog,  until  Sam 
called  his  attention  to  a  dark  line  along  the  hori- 
zon, and  also  to  the  fact  that  there  was  a  decided 
change  in  the  temperature. 

'  There  '11  be  a  smother  upon  us  in  less  than  half 
an  hour,  an*  it  's  fortunate  I  brought  an  extra  supply 
of  Coston  signals.  That  's  another  case,  No.  8, 
where  people  would  talk  of  luck,  an'  yet  it  was  only 
reasonable  foresight,  such  as  any  man  ought  to 
exercise. ' ' 

Sam  was  making  his  way  along  the  coast  at  his 


1/4  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

best  pace,  which  was  so  rapid  that  at  times  Benny 
was  fored  to  run,  and  when  ten  minutes  had  passed 
the  boy  asked,  panting  for  breath : 

Why  are  you  hurrying  ?  All  the  crew  are  out 
to  the  steamer,  and  a  watch  ashore  won't  be  needed 
until  quite  a  while  after  they  have  come  back." 

True,  lad  ;  but  it  's  necessary  to  get  the  location 
of  the  ship  well  fixed  in  mind  before  the  fog  shuts 
down.  Once  that  has  been  done  we  can  go  out  to 
her  without  any  great  trouble,  providin'  we  're 
needed." 

The  two  arrived  none  too  soon  at  the  post  they 
were  to  occupy. 

On  gaining  the  bluff  opposite  the  steamer,  the 
mist,  which  had  been  rapidly  creeping  over  the 
ocean,  had  already  begun  to  envelop  her,  and  no 
more  than  the  spars  could  be  distinguished. 

'  Ten  minutes'  delay,  and  we  'd  have  been  too 
late,  not  only  to  make  her  out,  but  to  hear  what 
orders  Tom  Downey  may  have  to  give,"  the  surf- 
man  said,  and  Benny  could  faintly  distinguish  amid 
the  vapor  a  dark  spot  which  he  understood,  because 
of  Sam  Hardy's  words,  to  be  the  surf-boat  coming 
shoreward. 

Five  minutes  later  the  crew  rested  on  their  oars 
within  an  hundred  feet  of  the  bluff,  as  the  keeper 
shouted : 

"  Did  you  send  a  message  to  the  city  ?  " 


THE  STRANDED  STEAMER.        175 

"  Ay,  sir,  and  there  will  be  no  tugs  here  much 
before  high  water." 

"  Keep  your  ears  open  for  the  steamer's  whistle, 
which  will  be  sounded  three  times  if  the  captain  de- 
cides that  he  needs  assistance." 

"  And  what  then,  sir  ?  It  will  be  hard  making 
out  such  a  signal  as  that  now  the  fog-horn  has  be- 
gun to  blow." 

It  was  as  if  the  keeper  had  only  realized  this  fact 
by  thus  being  reminded  of  it,  and  after  a  brief  con- 
sultation with  the  crew  he  shouted  again : 

"  We  '11  come  ashore  on  that  bit  of  shingle  just 
below,  and  you  may  join  us  there." 

Having  said  this  he  gave  some  order  to  the  men, 
and  the  surf-boat  was  pulled  out  to  sea  again,  disap- 
pearing almost  immediately  in  the  fog  which  had  by 
this  time  reached  the  land. 

Why  are  they  coming  ashore  ?  "  Benny  asked 
as  Sam  Hardy  set  out  northward. 

He  counts  on  havin'  the  surf-boat  in  case  she 
may  be  needed,  for,  if  this  smother  clears  away  be- 
fore the  moon  rises,  there  '11  be  a  sea  on  that  will 
trouble  yonder  steamer  considerably." 

Sam  followed  the  trend  on  the  shore  a  hundred 
yards  or  more,  coming  to  a  halt  where  a  narrow 
strip  of  pebbly  beach  lay  between  two  frowning 
walls  of  rock,  and  Benny  said  to  himself  that  it 
would  not  be  possible,  however  familiar  the  life- 


176  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

saving  crew  were  with  the  coast,  for  them  to  find 
their  way  through  this  dangerous  passage  while  the 
fog  was  so  dense  that  objects  a  dozen  feet  away 
could  hardly  be  distinguished. 

In  this  he  was  mistaken,  however.  The  men  had 
been  forced  many  times,  either  to  save  their  own 
lives  or  in  the  aid  of  others,  to  pursue  quite  as  blind 
a  course,  and  two  or  three  minutes  later  the  surf- 
boat  came  between  the  frowning  walls  against  which 
the  waves  were  already  beginning  to  dash  with  an 
ominous  moan. 

Now  Benny  had  an  opportunity  of  observing  how 
much  labor  might  be  required  of  the  life-saving 
crew  when  it  became  necessary  to  take  precau- 
tions. 

The  captain  of  the  stranded  steamer  had  refused 
to  allow  his  passengers  to  be  taken  off  when  it 
might  have  been  done  without  difficulty,  and  now, 
aground  as  she  was,  much  danger  was  to  be  appre- 
hended. This  could  be  guarded  against  only  by 
leaving  the  surf-boat  where  she  might  readily  be 
launched.  At  the  same  time  the  remainder  of  the 
coast  must  be  patrolled  lest  other  ships  needed  as- 
sistance, and  the  crew  were  forced  to  perform  all 
their  regular  duties  while  remaining  on  the  alert  to 
answer  a  call  from  this  point. 

"  Suppose  the  steamer  should  whistle  for  assist- 
ance, and  at  the  same  time  a  vessel  went  ashore  the 


THE  STRANDED  STEAMER.        1 77 

other  side  of  the  station  ?  "  Benny  asked.  "  How 
could  one  crew  attend  to  both  ?  " 

"  It  would  be  the  keeper's  duty  to  decide  which 
craft  was  in  the  greatest  danger,  or,  if  both  were  in 
much  the  same  position,  where  the  largest  number 
of  lives  might  be  saved,  and  then  one  or  the  other 
would  be  left  to  her  fate.  There  's  where  the  re- 
sponsibility of  the  keeper  comes  in,  my  son,  and  a 
heavy  one  it  is  like  to  be  under  certain  circum- 
stances." 

The  surf-boat  had  been  hauled  up  beyond  reach 
of  the  tide  when  it  should  rise,  and  all  the  men 
ordered  out  on  patrol. 

There  was  no  time  to  be  spent  in  eating  supper, 
for  the  most  dreaded  of  all  dangers  upon  the  Eastern 
coast  had  suddenly  presented  itself,  and  the  life- 
saving  crew  must  labor  to  the  utmost  extent  of  their 
powers  without  thought  or  heed  of  self  until,  per- 
chance, exhaustion  should  overcome  them. 

Sam  and  Benny  were  left  alone,  and  a  long, 
dreary  vigil  did  they  keep,  although  the  surfman 
tried  to  enliven  it  for  the  lad  by  telling  stories,  or 
explaining  again  and  again  the  duties  of  each  mem- 
ber of  the  crew  under  supposititious  circumstances. 

The  fog  hung  low  and  dense  until  nearly  mid- 
night, when  the  wind  had  so  increased  in  force  that 
it  was  "  blown  away,"  to  use  Sam  Hardy's  expres- 
sion, and  the  steamer  revealed  to  view. 


178  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

That  the  surf  had  been  rising  all  this  time  the 
watchers  on  shore  knew  full  well  by  the  roaring  and 
pounding  of  the  waves  upon  the  rocks,  but  yet  even 
Sam  Hardy,  experienced  in  such  matters  as  he  was, 
betrayed  surprise  when  the  lifting  of  the  fog  revealed 
the  situation  of  the  stranded  steamer. 

At  the  time  she  was  first  discovered  the  vessel  lay 
motionless  as  if  at  anchor  in  a  quiet  haven ;  now  the 
heavy  swell,  dashing  over  the  shoal,  was  so  high 
that  at  times  it  seemed  as  if  the  steamer's  decks 
must  be  flooded,  and  Sam  Hardy  cried  anxiously 
and  impatiently: 

'  Why  don't  that  pig-headed  captain  signal  for 
assistance  ?  I  've  seen  a  craft  more  staunch  than 
she  knocked  to  pieces  by  the  surf  when  there  was  n't 
half  a  gale  of  wind,  an'  now  we  're  likely  to  have 
before  mornin'  all  the  breeze  that  a  water-borne 
craft  can  stagger  under,  to  say  nothin'  of  one  that 's 
aground." 

'  Perhaps  he  's  waitin*  until  daylight,"  Benny 
suggested,  and  his  companion  replied  with  a  note 
of  anger  in  his  voice: 

"If  he  does  it  '11  be  too  late,  for  in  that  shallow 
water  we  could  n't  get  a  life-boat  to  her,  an'  the  time 
has  already  passed  when  we  might  be  able  to  use 
the  surf-boat." 

Five  minutes  later  the  two  watchers  on  shore  saw, 
coming  around  the  point,  the  heavy  boat  from  the 


THE   STRANDED   STEAMER.  179 

station,  and  understood  that  Keeper  Downey  be- 
lieved the  moment  had  arrived  when  assistance 
should  be  rendered,  even  though  as  yet  it  had  not 
been  asked  for. 

"  I  reckon  the  cook  is  No.  i  in  that  crew," 
Sam  muttered  half  to  himself  as  he  watched  the 
buoyant  craft  toss  like  an  egg-shell  on  the  heavy 
waters.  "  Downey  might  at  least  have  sent  him 
out  here,  an'  let  me  take  my  proper  place,  for  now 
the  life-boat  has  been  launched  there  's  little  need 
of  keepin'  a  man  on  duty  at  this  place." 

It  was  a  brave  sight  to  see  that  staunch  boat 
breasting  the  waves  which  at  times  appeared  to  raise 
her  literally  on  end,  but  yet  steadily  continuing  the 
course,  and  the  timid  ones  aboard  the  stranded 
steamer  must  have  hailed  her  as  a  thing  of  beauty 
and  of  mercy. 

Benny  had  never  seen  the  life-boat  in  service,  and 
so  engrossed  was  he  with  the  spectacle  that  he  could 
give  no  attention  to  anything  else. 

By  this  time  not  a  vestige  of  fog  could  be  seen. 
The  stars  were  twinkling  brightly  in  the  sky,  and, 
save  for  the  tremendous  wind  which  seemed  gather- 
ing force  every  instant,  one  would  have  said  that 
there  was  no  fear  of  disaster  alongshore. 

The  life-boat  ran  down  the  coast,  heading  directly 
for  the  steamer  until  she  was  within  perhaps  an 
eighth  of  a  mile,  when,  turning,  she  put  straight  out 


180  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

to  sea  in  the  teeth  of  the  wind  as  if  running  away 
from  the  stranded  vessel,  and  Benny  cried : 

"  Mr.  Downey  's  afraid  to  go  any  nearer;  but 
why  does  n't  he  come  back  to  the  station  ?  " 

"  Bless  your  heart,  lad,  he  's  countin'  on  boardin' 
that  craft  as  soon  as  may  be ;  but  with  such  a  sea 
runnin',  an'  over  that  shallow  water  which  is  like  to 
let  the  life-boat  down  on  the  shoal  when  she  gets 
into  the  trough  of  the  sea,  he  's  bound  to  take  every 
precaution.  Now!  He  's  cast  the  grapnel,  an' 
you  '11  see  them  drop  back  as  close  aboard  the 
steamer  as  can  be  done  with  safety." 

This  manoeuvre  was  performed  rapidly,  and  with 
the  least  possible  delay. 

Almost  before  Sam  had  ceased  speaking  the  life- 
boat was  lost  to  view  on  the  starboard  side  of  the 
steamer,  and  there  she  remained  so  long  that  the 
surfman  cried  impatiently : 

'  What  can  they  be  doin'  ?  Surely  there  has 
been  time  enough  to  take  off  a  full  load,  an'  Tom 
Downey  knows  as  well  as  any  other  man,  that  in  an 
hour  from  now  no  craft  ever  put  together  by  human 
hands  can  lay  over  that  shoal  without  being  dashed 
to  pieces  on  the  bottom." 

It  was  soon  seen,  however,  that  Tom  Downey 
was  not  delaying,  for  presently  the  life-boat  was 
pulled  up  to  her  grapnel,  and  then  headed  for  the 
station,  with  none  save  the  regular  crew  on  board. 


THE   STRANDED   STEAMER.  l8l 

Now  it  was  that  Sam  Hardy  lost  his  temper  en- 
tirely; he  stormed  and  scolded,  shaking  his  fist 
toward  the  stranded  craft  until,  almost  in  alarm, 
Benny  asked  the  reason  of  his  excitement : 

"  Can't  you  see  that  again  the  commander  of  the 
steamer  has  refused  assistance  ?  Tom  Downey  went 
off  believin'  the  pig-headed  master  would  realize 
the  danger  by  this  time,  an'  counted  on  bringin' 
the  passengers  ashore;  but  he  's  been  sent  away 
empty-handed,  and  when  that  captain  comes  to  his 
senses  it  '11  be  too  late  for  us  to  give  him  any  assist- 
ance." 

"  Surely,  Mr.  Downey  has  done  all  a  man  can, 
and  if  anything  happens  now  it  's  the  master  of  the 
steamer  who  is  responsible,"  Benny  said  soothingly. 
'  That  does  n't  relieve  us  from  some  shadow  of 
blame  in  case  anything  happens.  We  shall  be  raked 
over  the  coals  if  that  craft  goes  to  pieces,  an'  Downey 
will  be  forced  to  explain  why  he  did  n't  insist  on 
saving  the  passengers,  if  not  the  crew!  " 

"  But  he  could  n't  if  the  captain  refused." 

True  for  you,  lad ;  but  it  '11  hurt  us  all  the  same, 
for  the  crew  of  a  life-saving  station  feels  a  certain 
degree  of  responsibility  for  every  life  lost  in  their 
district,  and  thus  far  our  record  has  been  exception- 
ally good." 

It  was  useless  for  Sam  to  scold  and  fret. 

The  circumstances  could  not  be  altered,  and  all 


1 82  THE  LIFE   SAVERS, 

he  might  do  was  to  stand  on  the  shore  watching 
the  increasing  violence  of  the  waters,  knowing  full 
well  that  each  moment  lessened  the  chances  of 
rendering  assistance  to  the  stranded  steamer. 

Then  came  Joe  Gushing,  who  was  doing  patrol 
duty  on  that  portion  of  the  shore,  and  Sam  asked 
for  the  particulars  of  the  life-boat's  voyage. 

'  When  we  came  alongside  Downey  explained  to 
the  skipper  what  was  like  to  be  the  condition  of 
affairs  an  hour  later;  but  could  n't  beat  any  sense 
into  his  head,  He  refused  to  allow  a  single  pas- 
senger to  leave,  although  many  of  them  were  anxious 
to  do  so ;  but  asked  again  that  we  send  another  mes- 
sage into  the  city  for  tugs,"  Joe  Gushing  replied. 
'  It  seems  that  the  craft  has  n't  taken  ground  so 
badly  but  that  she  could  be  pulled  off  with  her  own 
engines,  by  the  aid  of  a  couple  of  tugs,  an'  the 
master  declares  she  '11  stand  more  poundin'  than 
she  's  likely  to  receive  this  night,  all  of  which  may 
be  true.  Just  as  we  were  leavin'  he  asked  the 
keeper  to  have  the  crew  on  hand  in  case  he  decided 
later  to  land  with  his  own  boats." 

"  With  his  own  boats  in  this  surf!  "  Sam  Hardy 
exclaimed. 

"  Ay,  that  's  what  he  allowed.  Of  course  Tom 
Downey  told  him  it  could  n't  be  done,  an'  said  all 
a  man  might  to  dissuade  him  from  makin'  such  an 
attempt.  Then  we  came  away,  an'  Sam,  you  know 


THE   STRANDED   STEAMER,  183 

as  well  as  I,  that  now  there  's  no  crew  in  this  or  any 
other  country  that  can  put  out  across  the  shoal  an" 
get  back  with  their  boat." 

"  Know  it,  of  course  I  do!  "  Sam  Hardy  cried, 
and  then  for  ten  minutes  or  more  the  two  surfmen 
discussed  the  situation  angrily,  but  without  making 
matters  any  better,  save  perhaps  it  might  be  that 
their  own  minds  were  relieved  by  much  talking,  after 
which  Joe  Gushing  went  on  patrol  again. 

When  he  was  gone  Benny  asked : 
Are  we  to  stay  here,  sir  ?  " 

"  Ay,  lad,  until  we  starve,  unless  Tom  Downey 
orders  us  in." 

The  wind  was  piercing  cold,  and  the  two  on  the 
shore  were  exposed  to  its  full  force  while  they  re- 
mained where  it  was  possible  to  keep  the  steamer  in 
view. 

Sam  urged  Benny  to  find  a  sheltered  spot  where 
he  might  be  partially  screened  from  the  wind ;  but 
the  lad  refused,  saying  decidedly: 

I  have  been  ordered  here,  sir,  the  same  as  you 
were,  and  I  '11  do  what  any  other  member  of  the 
crew  would  in  my  place." 

"  All  right,  No.  8;  but  I  hold  to  it  that  there  's 
such  a  thing  as  havin'  too  much  grit.  You  want  to 
toughen  up;  but  you  're  goin'  too  strong  at  the 
start.  If  you  're  bound  to  hold  on,  keep  pace  with 
me  while  I  trot  around  here  a  spell." 


1 84  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

Then  the  two  paced  back  and  forth  along  the 
rocky  coast  nearly  an  hour  when,  although  con- 
stantly expecting  it,  they  were  startled  by  the 
steamer's  shrill  whistle. 

Three  blasts  blown,  and  Sam  Hardy  exclaimed: 

He  's  come  to  his  senses  at  last;  but  when  it  's 
too  late!  Now,  whatever  happens,  he  '11  say  he 
was  '  unlucky,'  although  we  know  it  was  nothin' 
but  sheer  willfulness." 

'  What  are  we  to  do  ?"  Benny  asked,  as  if  think- 
ing they  must  immediately  set  to  work  in  an  attempt 
to  answer  this  call  for  assistance. 

'  That  's  for  the  keeper  to  say.  If  I  was  in  his 
place  I  'd  get  the  beach-wagon  over  here,  for  the 
boats  are  of  no  use." 

"  Sha'n't  I  run  back  toward  the  station  so  's  to 
help  them  in  case  they  're  comin*  with  the  cart  ?  " 

"  No,  Benny.  Our  orders  were  to  stay  here,  an' 
here  we  '11  wait. ' ' 

To  show  that  the  call  for  assistance  was  heard  and 
understood,  Sam  Hardy  flashed  his  Coston  signal,  and 
less  than  half  an  hour  later  the  crew  from  the  station 
came  up  at  full  speed,  but  without  the  beach-wagon. 
'  We  '11  make  one  fight  with  the  surf-boat,"  Tom 
Downey  said  hurriedly  to  Sam,  "  and  if  that  proves 
useless,  as  I  reckon  it  will,  we  '11  try  to  send  a  line 
aboard,  although  there  's  little  show  it  can  be  done 
while  she  lays  so  far  from  shore." 


THE   STRANDED   STEAMER.  185 

Hardy  joined  the  crew  as  they  ran  toward  the 
surf-boat,  which  was  hauled  up  on  shore  a  short  dis- 
tance away,  and  Benny  wondered  that  he  should  be 
so  willing  to  make  the  attempt  when  but  a  short  time 
previous  he  had  declared  it  an  absolute  impossibility 
they  could  gain  the  steamer's  side  in  either  boat. 

Now  the  lad  saw  for  the  second  time  what  an 
heroic  struggle  his  crew  could  make  against  almost 
insurmountable  difficulties. 

Across  the  shoal  the  sea  was  running  wildly,  while 
inshore  the  spray  dashed  so  high  as  to  completely 
hide  the  steamer  from  view  at  times. 

It  seemed  little  short  of  madness  to  put  out  even 
in  the  staunch  life-boat,  yet  Tom  Downey  and  his 
brave  fellows  made  the  venture  without  hesitation. 

With  three  on  either  side  and  the  keeper  at  the 
stern,  they  waited  with  the  surf-boat  close  at  the 
water-line  until  the  heavy  swell  had  broken  upon 
the  shore  and  was  receding,  when,  following  it,  they 
ran  into  the  waves  breast-deep,  leaping  aboard  their 
craft  instantly  she  was  water-borne. 

Benny  literally  held  his  breath  in  suspense  as, 
under  the  impulse  of  six  oars,  the  surf-boat  was 
forced  out  into  that  tumult  of  waters,  and  ere 
she  had  sailed  a  hundred  yards  the  heavy  waves, 
striking  her  bow,  lifted  her  up,  up,  up,  until  she 
was  literally  pitch-poled  backwards,  throwing  every 
member  of  the  crew  into  the  sea. 


1 86  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

A  cry  of  horror  burst  from  the  lad's  lips  as  he  ran 
down  to  the  pebbly  beach,  fancying  his  puny 
strength  might  avail  in  that  terrific  struggle  which 
must  ensue,  for  he  had  good  reason  to  fear  that  not 
one  of  his  comrades  would  reach  the  shore  alive. 

The  men  had  prepared  themselves  for  this  battle 
by  throwing  off  all  superfluous  clothing,  despite  the 
chilling  wind,  and  now  was  shown  the  advantage 
which  they  had  over  deep-water  sailors,  for,  know- 
ing every  trend  of  the  current  along  the  coast,  and 
accustomed  to  avail  themselves  of  it  under  all  con- 
ditions of  weather,  it  was  possible  for  them  to  do 
what  one  who  had  not  been  bred  to  such  dangers 
would  have  lost  his  life  in  doing. 

The  lad  who  stood  trembling  with  apprehension 
on  the  shore  was  literally  amazed  at  seeing  one  after 
another  of  the  sturdy  fellows  emerge  from  the  foam- 
ing waters,  and  make  his  way  ashore  either  by 
creeping  on  his  hands  and  knees,  or,  throwing  him- 
self backward  upon  the  crest  of  a  wave,  and  allow 
the  volume  of  water  to  sweep  him  upon  the  beach 
even  at  the  risk  of  dashing  him  against  the  rocks. 

No  more  than  ten  minutes  had  elapsed  from  the 
time  the  surf-boat  put  out  before  the  last  member 
of  the  crew  was  on  the  cliff,  all  bruised  and  beaten 
more  or  less,  but  alive  and  ready  for  further  duty, 
even  at  a  time  when  such  a  duty  seemed  impossible. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

IN   THE   SURF. 

A  new  day  was  breaking  when  the  life-saving  crew 
were  beat  back  upon  the  shore  by  the  waves  after 
their  heroic  but  vain  struggle  in  the  surf-boat. 

The  wind  gave  evidence  of  gaining  strength  as 
the  sun  rose,  and  steadily  the  waves  increased  in 
violence.  Now  they  were  dashing  against  the 
steamer  with  the  same  force  as  upon  the  rocky  cliffs, 
and  to  those  ashore  it  appeared  as  if  every  billow  of 
foaming  water  passed  directly  over  the  stranded 
vessel. 

In  the  minds  of  the  life-saving  crew,  at  least,  it 
was  no  longer  simply  a  question  of  the  passengers' 
discomfort,  but  whether  the  steamer  could  with- 
stand the  terrific  beating  and  pounding  to  which  she 
was  subjected. 

"  She  must  either  go  to  pieces,  or  be  driven 
nearer  inshore,"  Joe  Gushing  said,  when  the  crew 
halted  for  a  moment  upon  the  cliff  after  their  terri- 
ble struggle  with  the  surf,  and  his  mates  fully  agreed 
with  that  conclusion. 

187 


1 88  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

% 

It  was  more  than  probable  the  captain  of  the 
steamer  had  by  this  time  taken  quite  as  gloomy  a 
view  of  the  situation,  for  he  continued  to  sound  his 
signals  of  distress,  although,  as  Sam  Hardy  said  im- 
patiently, "  he  should  have  had  sufficient  sense  to 
know  that  everything  in  human  power  would  be 
done  to  aid  him." 

"  He  may  be  ignorant  of  the  waters  round  about 
here,  and  have  an  idea  that  a  tug  can  get  near 
enough  to  pass  him  a  hawser,"  Dick  Sawyer  sug- 
gested, and  Keeper  Downey  replied: 

"  It  will  only  be  necessary  for  him  to  look  at  his 
chart,  which  he  had  better  have  done  yesterday 
afternoon,  in  order  to  learn  that  no  help  can  be  ex- 
pected from  seaward.  I  am  at  a  loss  to  know  just 
what  is  wisest  to  do,  and  ask  each  of  you  to  give 
his  opinion.  The  tide  is  now  so  low  that  we  cannot 
hope  to  get  the  life-boat  over  the  shoals.  Perhaps 
there  's  one  chance  in  twenty,  by  putting  out  into 
deep  water,  we  might  drop  down  so  near  as  to  take 
off  a  few;  but  certain  it  is  all  could  not  be  brought 
ashore  in  that  manner.  The  question  to  be  decided 
is,  whether  we  shall  make  such  an  attempt,  or  put 
forth  all  our  efforts  toward  getting  a  line  aboard." 

The  men  gave  an  opinion  according  to  their 
station  numbers,  Sam  Hardy  speaking  first,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  and  his  view  of  the  situation  ap- 
peared to  be  that  of  all  the  others. 


IN  THE   SURF.  189 

"  While  I  'm  ready  to  try  what  can  be  done  with 
the  life-boat,  and  will  go  aboard  of  her  cheerfully, 
to  my  mind  there  are  too  many  chances  of  failure — 
which  would  probably  mean  death  to  all  concerned 
— and  too  few  of  success  to  warrant  making  the 
attempt.  I  believe,  as  Joe  Gushing  does,  that  if 
the  steamer  is  n't  stove  by  the  waves  she  must  be 
driven  nearer  ashore,  in  which  case  we  can  get  a 
line  out  to  her.  Therefore  I  vote  that  we  put  all 
our  dependence  upon  what  may  be  done  from  here." 

Learning  that  the  others  were  of  the  same  opin- 
ion, and  understanding  that  they  might  not  have 
very  much  time  at  their  disposal,  Keeper  Downey 
at  once  gave  the  necessary  orders  for  setting  about 
this  last  plan  of  rescue,  which  necessitated  the 
bringing  up  of  the  beach-apparatus. 

"  No.  i  and  No.  8  are  to  remain  here  on  duty  in 
order  to  prevent,  if  possible,  by  signal,  any  effort  of 
the  captain  toward  landing  with  his  own  boats,  as 
he  suggested,"  Tom  Downey  said,  speaking  hur- 
riedly. "  The  remainder  of  the  crew  will  go  back 
to  the  station  with  me  for  the  beach-wagon." 

Exercise  was  what  the  men  most  needed,  wet  to 
the  skin  as  they  were  after  the  battle  in  the  surf, 
and  as  soon  as  the  order  was  given  they  set  off 
at  full  speed,  while  Sam  Hardy  was  left  with  Benny 
upon  the  cliff  to  bear  the  discomforts  as  best  they 
might. 


190  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

"  You  ought  to  have  gone  with  the  others,"  No. 
8  said  solicitously.  '  Your  wet  clothes  will  be 
frozen  long  before  they  can  get  back,  and  it  don't 
seem  to  me  as  if  there  was  much  need  of  keeping 
anybody  out  here  in  the  wind." 

"  It  is  necessary,  lad,  if  for  no  other  reason  than 
that  the  order  has  been  given.  In  Tom  Downey's 
place  I  should  have  made  much  the  same  arrange- 
ment. Some  one  of  the  crew  must  grin  an'  bear  it 
in  wet  clothing,  an'  because  of  havin'  first  been 
stationed  here,  I  'm  the  one  to  bear  the  brunt." 

"But  you  will  freeze  to  death,"  Benny  cried 
sharply. 

"  Not  quite  so  bad  as  that,  lad,  for  I  '11  keep 
movin'  about,"  and  Sam  suited  the  action  to  the 
words,  Benny  following  close  by  his  side  as  the  surf- 
man  ran  swiftly  to  and  fro,  beating  his  arms  upon 
his  breast  for  additional  exercise. 

"  Of  course  we  don't  always  get  it  quite  as  tough 
as  this,"  Sam  said  when  he  halted  to  regain  his 
breath  after  ten  minutes  of  this  most  violent  ex- 
ertion, "  an'  then  again,  there  are  times  when  it 
comes  harder;  so  you  see,  lad,  that  belonging  to  a 
life-saving  crew  ain't  quite  as  pleasant  as  you  may 
have  thought." 

"  I  did  n't  count  it  was  an  easy  life." 

But  you  can  see  now  that  it  's  best  you  don't 
hold  to  the  idea  of  bein'  one  of  'em." 


IN  THE   SURF.  19 1 

"  If  I  was  going  to  be  discouraged  because  of 
hard  work  on  such  a  job  as  this,  then  I  'd  best  not 
think  of  ever  bein*  a  surfman,"  Benny  replied 
stoutly.  "  It  was  n't  on  my  own  account  that  I 
said  anything;  my  clothes  are  dry,  and  I  can  keep 
warm ;  but  I  was  afraid  you  'd  freeze  after  having 
been  overboard  so  long." 

"  You  're  a  gritty  little  chap,"  Sam  said  admir- 
ingly, "  almost  too  much  so  for  one  of  your  years 
an'  build;  but  don't  worry  about  me.  I  've  been 
in  worse  places  than  this,  an'  never  come  to  any 
great  harm.  If  it  was  n't  that  all  the  work  might 
have  been  done  readily  an'  without  risk,  I  should  n't 
feel  like  grumblin' ;  but  when  a  man  realizes  that 
the  situation  has  all  come  about  through  a  pig- 
headed captain  who  would  n't  allow  we  knew 
anything  of  the  coast,  then  it  seems  tough.  How- 
somever,  we  're  in  a  box,  an'  have  not  only  got  to 
get  out  of  it  ourselves,  but  pull  others  with  us, — an' 
we  '11  do  it,  No.  8,  we  '11  do  it." 

Then  Sam  resumed  the  exercise,  Benny  copying 
his  every  movement,  and  thus  alternately  run- 
ning and  halting  to  regain  breath,  the  two  passed 
the  time  until  they  could  see  in  the  distance 
the  crew,  dragging  the  beach-wagon  over  the 
rocks. 

'  Now  that  the  apparatus  is  here  it  can't  be  used 
while  the  steamer  lays  so  far  off,"  Hardy  said  half 


IQ2  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

to  himself,  and  at  that  instant  a  cry  of  dismay  caused 
him  to  gaze  seaward. 

When  the  waves  began  to  run  high  the  master  of 
the  vessel  had  gotten  out  anchors  fore  and  aft  to 
prevent  her  from  being  driven  shoreward. 

The  parting  of  the  stern  cables  had  caused  the  cry 
of  dismay  from  Benny,  and  as  Sam  looked  in  that 
direction  the  ships  stern  was  swung  violently  around 
until  she  lay  broadside  to  the  waves,  in  such  posi- 
tion as  proved  that  she  would  soon  be  driven  inshore 
virtually  a  wreck. 

I  reckon  we  '11  be  able  to  put  a  line  aboard  of 
her  mighty  soon,"  Sam  said  grimly,  waving  his  arms 
to  attract  the  attention  of  the  crew  that  they  might 
hasten  their  movements,  and  Benny,  seeing  an  op- 
portunity to  be  of  some  slight  assistance,  ran  at  full 
speed  to  meet  the  wagon. 

'  What  has  happened  ?  "  Keeper  Downey  asked, 
as  the  lad  joined  him  at  the  rear  of  the  cart,  the 
cook  holding  Sam  Hardy's  station  at  the  handle-bar. 

"  The  stern  cable  has  parted,  sir." 

"  Shove  her  along,  boys!  Shove  her  along! 
We  '11  be  able  to  get  a  line  out  now,"  and  as  the 
men  strained  yet  more  energetically  at  the  ropes 
and  the  handle-bar,  Benny  put  all  his  little  strength 
into  the  effort,  performing,  as  Joe  Gushing  after- 
ward said,  "  considerably  more  than  half  a  man's 
work." 


IN  THE   SURF.  193 

Sam  Hardy  also  joined  the  crew,  and  the  wagon 
had  no  more  than  been  hauled  down  to  the  strip  of 
pebbly  beach,  the  only  point  from  which  the  work 
could  be  carried  on,  when  the  life  savers  had  yet 
further  evidence  of  the  captain's  "  pig-headedness. " 

When  he  laid  alongside  the  steamer,  while  urging 
that  the  passengers  at  least  be  taken  ashore,  Tom 
Downey  had  said  all  a  man  might  to  prevent  the 
master  from  holding  to  the  plan  of  launching  his 
own  boats;  and  yet  despite  such  advice,  which 
should  have  been  considered  well  worthy  of  being 
followed,  that  very  manoeuvre  was  now  about  to  be 
attempted. 

The  life-saving  crew  could  see  that  one  of  the  port 
boats  was  being  hoisted  out,  and  every  man  ashore 
knew  beyond  the  shadow  of  a  doubt  that  such  a 
craft  could  not  live  five  minutes  in  that  boiling, 
yeasty  swirl  of  waters. 

With  a  hope  of  yet  persuading  the  wilful  captain, 
Tom  Downey  ignited  a  Coston  signal,  and,  waving 
it  violently  above  his  head,  showed  as  plainly  as 
man  might  by  such  means,  that  there  was  danger 
in  the  contemplated  move. 

It  seems  to  me  as  if  deep-water  sailors  lose  their 
heads  at  such  a  time,"  Joe  Gushing  cried,  observing 
that  the  work  went  on  aboard  the  steamer  despite 
the  keeper's  warnings.  '  The  captain  must  have 

seen  that  we  failed  to  keep  the  surf-boat  on  her 
13 


194  THE   LIFE   SAVERS. 

bottom,  but  yet  he  expects  to  do  with  his  cockle- 
shell what  we  could  n't  with  a  craft  built  especially 
for  the  purpose!  " 

Joe  was  not  the  only  member  of  the  crew  who 
criticised  harshly  the  methods  of  the  steamer's  com- 
mander; every  man  gave  words  to  the  indignation 
in  his  heart,  but  yet  the  foolhardy  work  went  on 
rapidly,  as  if  those  on  board  the  stranded  craft  were 
eager  to  meet  their  doom. 

That  they  were  anxious  to  leave  their  steamer 
seemed  probable,  even  to  Benny,  for  the  waves 
were  now  rolling  completely  over  her,  and  at  every 
surge  she  was  driven  higher  and  higher  up  on  the 
shoal  until  the  surfmen  began  to  fear  she  would  be 
rolled  completely  over. 

The  work  of  making  ready  to  send  out  a  line  was 
begun  as  soon  as  the  wagon  had  been  placed  in 
position,  and  the  men  labored  none  the  less  ener- 
getically and  expeditiously  because  they  glanced 
from  time  to  time  at  the  tiny  boat  swinging  at  the 
davits,  in  which  the  steamer's  crew  were  taking 
their  stations. 

The  gun  was  not  yet  loaded  when  the  boat,  with 
a  crew  of  eight  men,  dropped  into  the  water  at  a 
moment  when  the  receding  waves  made  such  a 
manoeuvre  possible,  and  then,  to  the  surprise  of  the 
life  savers,  all  the  sailors  were  seen  working  at  the 
oars,  while  no  one  appeared  to  be  steering. 


THE  BOAT  FROM  THE  STEAMER. 


Page  1 95 


IN  THE   SURF.  195 

"  It  is  n't  enough  that  they  must  attempt  an 
impossibility  !  "  Tom  Downey  cried  angrily. 
"  They  're  bent  on  doing  all  within  their  power  to 
provoke  destruction.  What  kind  of  a  sailor  can 
he  be  who  believes  it  possible  to  put  a  craft  of  any 
kind  through  the  surf  without  a  helmsman  ?  " 

No  one  made  reply  to  this  outburst.  The  surf- 
men  on  shore  understood  that  even  though  the  on- 
coming craft  had  been  a  life-boat,  it  meant  certain 
disaster  to  handle  her  in  such  manner. 

And  that  disaster  came  even  sooner  than  they 
expected. 

Before  the  little  craft  had  cleared  more  than  a 
third  of  the  distance  from  the  steamer  to  the  shore, 
she  was  overturned  by  a  heavy  breaker  which  raised 
the  stern  higher  and  higher  until  the  bow  was  forced 
into  the  trough  of  the  sea,  and  the  boat  disappeared 
entirely. 

As  the  waves  rose  the  eight  men  could  be  seen 
struggling  amid  the  foaming  waters,  and  this  sight 
caused  the  life  savers  to  forget  their  previous  failure 
— their  late  struggle  amid  that  same  surf,  wherein 
death  so  nearly  overtook  them. 

Come  on,  boys!  "  Downey  shouted,  throwing 
off  his  outer  clothing  as  he  ran  swiftly  to  where  the 
surf-boat,  having  drifted  ashore,  was  lying  beyond 
reach  of  the  waves.  "  We  can't  stand  here  and  see 
them  drown,  however  the  disaster  has  been  caused  !  " 


196  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

Benny  ran  with  the  crew,  clutching  at  Sam 
Hardy's  garments  as  if  begging  him  not  to  make 
the  venture  which  apparently  meant  positive  death ; 
but  yet  daring  to  speak  no  word. 

Once  more  they  ran  breast-deep  into  the  water, 
and,  clambering  over  the  gunwale  as  the  surf-boat 
was  borne  swiftly  outward  by  the  receding  wave, 
took  up  their  oars.  Again  they  battled  against 
wind  and  tide,  heading  straight  onward  to  where 
the  seven  struggling  wretches  could  be  seen — one 
had  already  disappeared.  Two  of  the  steamer's 
men  were  striking  out  for  the  shore,  and  appeared 
to  be  making  fair  headway,  while  five  others  were 
clustered  near  the  capsized  boat,  apparently  making 
no  decided  effort  to  save  themselves,  except  by 
keeping  their  heads  above  water. 

It  seemed  to  Benny  that  the  surf-boat  must  be 
turned  end  over  end  before  she  was  thirty  yards 
from  the  shore,  in  the  same  manner  as  during  the 
first  attempt  to  put  off;  but  Keeper  Downey  han- 
dled her  with  consummate  skill,  and,  owing  to  the 
fact  that  the  tide  was  ebbing,  he  succeeded  in  keep- 
ing her  on  a  comparatively  even  keel,  avoiding 
the  two  swimmers  in  order  to  direct  his  first  efforts 
toward  those  who  appeared  unable  to  help  them- 
selves. 

The  lad  ashore  followed  with  his  eyes  every 
movement  made  by  his  comrades,  literally  ceasing 


IN  THE   SURF.  197 

to  breathe  when  the  surf-boat  was  thrown  high  up 
by  the  swell,  and  then  panting  heavily,  as  if  sharing 
in  the  exercise,  when  the  crew  strained  every  muscle 
to  force  her  over  the  next  foaming  wave. 

Inch  by  inch,  combating  both  wind  and  current, 
their  lives  hanging  in  the  balance  when  the  little 
craft  was  poised  on  the  crest  of  some  gigantic  roller, 
the  brave  life  savers  advanced  until  they  had  come 
to  the  group  of  five  who  still  paddled  wildly  around 
the  overturned  boat. 

This  was  a  moment  most  fraught  with  peril,  and 
Benny  clenched  his  hands  until  the  nails  almost  cut 
the  flesh,  so  great  was  his  suspense  and  fear,  as  one 
after  another  of  the  men  was  hauled  over  the  boat's 
rail,  saved,  if  the  crew  could  gain  the  shore  again. 

The  two  who  had  been  swimming  were  by  this 
time  within  the  line  of  shore-breakers,  moving 
slowly  as  if  nearly  exhausted,  and  No.  8  saw  his 
opportunity  of  doing  real  life-saving  work. 

Seizing  a  coil  of  rope  from  the  beach-wagon,  he 
ran  with  all  speed  to  the  very  edge  of  the  water, 
when,  standing  motionless  for  an  instant  to  make 
certain  of  his  aim,  he  flung  one  end  out  over  the 
waves. 

Fortunately  the  wind  forced  the  rope  slightly 
aside,  otherwise  it  would  have  gone  so  far  to  wind- 
ward of  the  struggling  men  as  to  be  of  no  avail. 

As  it  was,  however,  this  seeming  accident  was  of 


198  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

the  greatest  possible  advantage,  since  the  coils 
dropped  almost  directly  upon  the  heads  of  the 
struggling  men,  as  fairly  as  Tom  Downey  or  Sam 
Hardy  could  have  sent  it. 

Both  the  swimmers  clutched  it  at  the  same  in- 
stant, and  then  it  was  Benny  began  to  fear  he  had 
attempted  what  it  would  be  impossible  to  carry  out. 
His  strength  was  not  sufficient  to  enable  him  to 
pull  both  the  sailors  in — in  fact,  a  single  man  drawn 
back  by  that  undertow  would  have  been  too  heavy 
a  burden  for  the  lad — and  while  one  might  have 
counted  five  he  stood  irresolute,  trembling  with 
fear,  for  it  seemed  that  he  had  begun  the  work  only 
to  meet  with  failure. 

Glancing  quickly  around  as  if  hoping  to  see  some 
one  who  would  lend  assistance,  his  eyes  rested  upon 
a  spare  tail-block  in  the  beach-wagon,  and  now  did 
his  experience  on  shipboard  serve  him  in  good 
stead. 

With  the  least  possible  delay  he  made  this  fast  to 
the  wheel  of  the  wagon  in  such  fashion  that  the 
drag  would  come  upon  the  cart  sideways,  and,  as 
soon  as  might  be,  rove  the  casting-line  through  the 
block. 

Now  he  had  a  purchase  which  was  equivalent  to  the 
strength  of  three  men  when  used  on  the  rope  with- 
out a  block,  and  he  strained  every  muscle  in  this  his 
first  attempt  at  life-saving,  believing  that  unless  he 


IN  THE   SURF,  199 

was  successful  the  sailors  would  perish  in  the  surf. 
The  strain  forced  the  wheel  of  the  wagon  deep  into 
the  pebbly  beach,  and,  consequently,  the  purchase 
held  fast,  while  he,  bracing  himself  against  the 
wheel,  hauled  and  tugged  until  the  skin  on  the 
inner  side  of  his  fingers  was  broken  in  several  places; 
but  he  finally  succeeded  in  the  effort. 

Lest  it  appear  incredible  that  a  lad  only  twelve 
years  of  age  should  be  able  to  perform  such  a  feat, 
let  it  be  borne  in  mind  that  Benny  knew  full  well 
the  value  of  such  a  purchase  as  was  formed  by  the 
tail-block,  having  learned  this  while  on  shipboard, 
and  that  his  excitement  and  desire  to  save  life  lent 
him  a  certain  fictitious  strength,  for  positive  it  is  on 
that  day  Benny  Foster,  unaided,  except  by  the  rope 
and  block,  saved  two  lives. 

While  the  rescued  men  were  so  near  inshore  as  to 
be  able  to  gain  a  footing,  their  hold  upon  the  rope 
prevented  them  from  being  carried  back  by  the 
undertow,  giving  them  a  means  of  standing  steadily 
when  otherwise  the  surf  would  have  swept  them  out 
to  sea  again,  and  during  the  momentary  lull  both 
succeeded  in  running  beyond  reach  of  the  waters. 

Then  it  was  they  fell  on  the  shore  as  if  dead ; 
but  the  lad  who  rescued  them  knew  full  well 
they  were  only  exhausted.  Not  until  he  was 
assured  of  their  safety,  did  Benny  allow  himself  to 
look  seaward,  and  then  his  heart  was  filled  with 


200  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

thankfulness,  for  the  surf-boat  laden  gunwale  deep 
with  her  crew  and  those  that  had  been  snatched 
from  the  raging  waters,  was  coming  like  an  arrow 
toward  the  shore  on  the  crest  of  a  wave  that  had  in 
it  such  force  as  must  land  her  beyond  the  reach  of 
danger. 

Out  of  eight  men  who  had  tempted  death  in  a 
venture  which  was  the  height  of  foolhardiness,  seven 
were  brought  safely  to  land  by  the  life-saving  crew, 
among  whom  should  be  numbered  Benny  Foster. 

The  lad  only  waited  to  assure  himself  that  his 
comrades  were  safe,  when  he  turned  his  attention 
to  the  men  whom  he  had  dragged  ashore;  but  they 
stood  in  little  need  of  his  services,  for  by  this  time 
both  were  fully  conscious,  and  before  Benny  could 
so  much  as  speak,  Sam  Hardy,  having  leaped  out 
of  the  boat,  had  caught  the  boy  in  his  arms. 

'  You  Ve  done  that,  No.  8,  of  which  any  one  of 
us  might  well  be  proud,  and  he  who  says  you  're 
not  a  member  of  this  crew,  is  makin'  the  mistake  of 
his  life!  You  were  born  to  the  work,  my  boy,  and 
have  got  the  heart  to  carry  it  through!  " 

So  great  had  been  the  lad's  excitement  that  he 
was  hardly  aware  of  the  service  he  had  rendered, 
until  each  of  the  men  in  turn  had  some  word  of 
praise  or  congratulation  to  bestow,  and  not  the  least 
was  that  which  came  from  Tom  Downey,  who  said 
as  he  hurried  on  toward  the  gun : 


IN  THE   SURF.  2OI 

"  If  you  don't  get  a  medal  for  this  morning's 
work,  No.  8,  it  's  because  we  can't  tell  the  story  in 
the  proper  way,  for  you  've  earned  one  if  ever  man 
did!" 

No  more  than  two  or  three  minutes  in  all  had 
been  spent  by  the  life  savers  upon  the  lad,  for  each 
had  greeted  him  while  pressing  on  to  take  his  proper 
station,  and  by  the  time  Benny  fully  understood 
what  the  keeper's  words  signified,  every  member  of 
the  crew  was  performing  the  necessary  work  toward 
sending  out  the  breeches-buoy. 

While  the  rescue  was  being  effected  the  steamer 
had  been  driven  yet  higher  up  on  the  shoal,  and  was 
now  so  near  the  shore  as  to  render  it  a  comparatively 
simple  matter  to  send  the  line-carrying  shot  over  her 
deck. 

Once  communication  was  established  Benny  took 
his  station  at  the  whip  in  the  rear  of  the  shifting- 
man,  hauling  with  a  will,  and  heeding  not  the 
laborious  exertion  until  one  after  another,  first  the 
passengers,  then  the  crew,  and  lastly  the  captain 
were  brought  ashore. 

The  master  of  the  steamer  made  no  verbal  com- 
ment upon  the  work  when  he  clambered  out  from 
the  breeches-buoy. 

He  clasped  Keeper  Downey's  hand  for  an  instant, 
looking  into  the  latter's  eyes  as  if  acknowledging 
his  fault,  and  then  turning  to  Benny,  said : 


202  THE   LIFE   SAVERS. 

"  I  saw  what  you  did,  lad,  and  the  best  man  of 
your  crew  could  n't  have  accomplished  the  rescue 
more  expeditiously. " 

The  two  men  whom  the  lad  had  saved  now  came 
forward  as  if  to  give  words  to  their  thankfulness, 
but  Keeper  Downey  prevented  any  further  con- 
versation by  saying  sharply: 

"  Captain,  you  will  get  your  people  together  and 
start  them  at  once  for  the  station.  No.  8  will  show 
the  way,  and  see  to  it  that  you  are  provided  with 
dry  clothing." 

The  captain  looked  around  as  if  asking  who  No.  8 
might  be,  when  Joe  Gushing  cried : 

He  's  that  whifflet  in  front  of  you,  captain.  It 
may  seem  strange  that  a  lad  of  his  size  is  a  member 
of  a  life-saving  crew,  an'  it  's  true  he  don't  figure 
on  the  list ;  but  all  the  same  he  has  his  place  with 
us,  an'  always  will  till  he  himself  shall  want  to  leave 
the  service." 

Benny's  face  was  crimsoned  when  he  turned  to 
conduct  the  rescued  party  along  the  coast,  and  he 
walked  some  distance  in  advance  fearing  lest  further 
praise  might  be  bestowed  upon  him. 

Before  having  gone  a  dozen  yards  he  heard  Tom 
Downey  say  to  the  cook : 

'  Follow  on,  my  man,  for  the  chances  are  those 
people  will  need  something  warm ;  but  you  '11  re- 
member that  No.  8  is  in  charge  until  I  get  back." 


IN  THE    SURF.  2O3 

This  was  the  height  of  honor,  so  Benny  believed, 
and  he  no  longer  thought  of  the  medal  which  might 
possibly  be  his,  because  of  the  fact  that  the  keeper 
had  shown  most  conclusively  that  he  was  a  member 
of  the  crew  of  equal  standing  with  the  others. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

"NUMBER    EIGHT." 

Although  he  had  remained  on  duty  since  the  pre- 
vious afternoon,  and,  counting  the  time  spent  in  the 
city  with  Sam  Hardy,  had  been  without  rest  full 
forty-four  hours,  Benny  insisted  on  doing  his  equal 
share  of  work  in  the  kitchen  when  the  crew  and 
passengers  of  the  stranded  steamer  arrived  at  the 
station. 

It  was  so  late  in  the  day,  and  the  crew  yet  had  so 
much  labor  to  perform,  that  there  would  not  be 
time  in  which  to  make  the  necessary  arrangements 
for  sending  into  town  until  the  following  day  those 
who  had  been  rescued  from  the  steamer,  therefore 
the  station  was  a  scene  of  bustling  activity. 

The  officers  and  crew  of  the  steamer  were  to  be 
given  a  hearty  meal  before  they  joined  the  life- 
saving  crew  in  patrolling  the  shore  on  the  lookout 
for  such  wreckage  as  might  be  driven  in  from  their 
craft,  and  after  that  had  been  done  the  passengers 
must  be  cared  for. 

204 


"  NUMBER  EIGHT."  20$ 

"  With  the  addition  to  our  family  of  thirty-eight, 
work  here  in  the  station  will  be  right  lively,"  the 
cook  said  to  Benny  when  the  latter,  after  providing 
with  dry  clothing  such  of  the  rescued  as  were  in 
need,  presented  himself  in  the  kitchen;  "  but  for  all 
that  I  can  run  the  concern  without  calling  on  a  boy 
who  has  n't  been  in  bed  since  night  before  last." 

"  I  'm  no  more  tired  than  any  other  member  of 
the  crew,  and  want  to  do  my  share,"  Benny  in- 
sisted. "  I  'd  be  a  pretty  poor  No.  8  if  I  could  n't 
hold  my  own  with  those  who  have  done  twice  as 
much  work." 

'  You  've  kept  even  pace  with  all  hands,  accord- 
in'  to  what  I  've  heard,  an'  it  '11  please  me  better 
to  see  you  in  the  other  room  taking  care  of  Fluff  C. 
Foster." 

"  He  don't  need  me  while  all  those  ladies  are  pet- 
ting him.  Of  course  he  was  glad  to  see  me  after 
being  alone  in  the  station  so  long;  but  while  I  was 
getting  out  the  dry  clothing  he  made  friends  with 
some  of  the  passengers,  and  now  has  n't  time  to 
more  than  look  at  me." 

'  Has  he  got  his  medal  on  ?  " 

Do  you  think  I  'd  let  him  wear  that  all  the 
time  ?  "  and  Benny  set  about  paring  potatoes  as  if 
he  had  but  just  come  on  duty.  "  I  took  it  off  the 
very  minute  we  got  back  from  the  city." 

'  You  ought  to  let  him  have  it,  for  surely  the 


2O6  THE  LIFE  SAVERS. 

people  will  be  interested  in  knowing  he  has  won 
such  an  honor.  There  ain't  many  dogs  who  can 
show  as  much,  an'  it  is  n't  fair  to  keep  it  from  him 
just  now.  You  must  go  back  and  tell  the  whole 
story. 

Benny  hesitated.  He  was  eager  that  Fluff  should 
have  all  the  credit  due  him,  but  feared  lest  by  dis- 
playing the  medal  his  motives  might  be  misunder- 
stood. 

Do  you  suppose  they  'd  think  I  was  trying  to 
make  out  he  was  something  wonderful  ?  " 

Now  don't  be  too  modest,  Benjamin.  Fluff 
really  was  the  means  of  saving  Mr.  Bradford's  life, 
and  it  's  only  fair  to  let  people  know  about  it." 

Thus  urged,  Benny  did  as  the  cook  desired,  and 
nearly  half  an  hour  elapsed  before  he  returned  to 
the  kitchen. 

'  It  seemed  as  if  I  'd  never  get  away,"  he  said 
apologetically,  taking  up  the  first  work  which  pre- 
sented itself,  and  quickening  his  movements  to  atone 
for  lost  time.  '  They  made  me  tell  the  story  over 
and  over  again,  and  now  Fluff  's  having  a  terrible 
good  time." 

'  That  's  as  it  should  be,  and  I  only  wish  they  'd 
kept  you  longer,  for  I  don't  like  to  see  a  tired  lad 
hustling  around  here." 

'  I  sha'n't  hurt  myself,"  Benny  replied  with  a 
laugh,  determined  not  to  be  prevented  from  attend- 


"NUMBER  EIGHT."  2O? 

ing  to  his  regular  duties,  except  by  a  positive  com- 
mand from  Keeper  Downey. 

The  members  of  the  crew  were  too  busy  to  give 
much  heed  to  No.  8.  The  tugs,  which  had  finally 
come  in  response  to  the  messages  sent,  were  lying- 
to  outside,  communicating  with  the  keeper  by 
signals;  all  the  gear  used  was  to  be  put  away  in 
proper  order  that  it  might  be  got  at  without  loss  of 
time  should  occasion  arise,  and  three  of  the  men 
had  been  sent  back  on  the  bluff  to  watch  for  wreck- 
age from  the  steamer.  In  fact,  all  was  bustle  and 
seeming  confusion  until  after  the  keeper  issued  im- 
perative orders  that  Benny  make  up  a  bed  for  him- 
self in  the  kitchen,  and  go  to  sleep. 

The  number  of  the  rescued  was  so  large  that  all 
the  apartments  in  the  station,  save  the  kitchen 
itself,  were  given  up  to  them,  the  crew  lying  down 
when  their  turns  to  rest  came,  wherever  sufficient 
space  could  be  found. 

Regardless  of  the  noise  consequent  upon  so  many 
people  being  crowded  into  such  small  quarters, 
Benny  slept  as  only  a  tired  boy  can,  until  the  cook 
aroused  him  by  building  the  fire  next  morning  in 
order  to  cook  breakfast. 

Of  course  I  'm  all  right,"  he  said  in  reply  to 
the  question  as  to  his  condition;  "  but  I  must  have 
been  terrible  sleepy  last  night,  for  I  've  let  Fluff 
wear  his  collar  and  medal  all  night." 


208  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

'  That  won't  do  any  harm,  and,  besides,  he  's 
bound  to  keep  his  ornaments  on  till  our  visitors 
leave.  I  reckon  we  '11  soon  have  the  station  to  our- 
selves, an'  I  for  one  won't  be  sorry.  This  sleepin' 
on  the  kitchen  floor  with  not  so  much  as  a  blanket 
to  ease  up  on  the  boards,  ain't  particularly  pleasant, 
accordin'  to  the  way  I  look  at  it." 

I  could  have  slept  on  a  rock  last  night,  I  was 

so  tired,"  Benny  replied,  with  a  cheerful  laugh  as 

he  began  his  toilet,  promising  Fluff  that  he  should 

have  his  hair  combed  before  the  ladies  appeared. 

How  are  they  going  away  ?  " 

It  was  settled  last  night,  over  the  telephone, 
that  if  the  wind  died  down,  a  tug  would  be  out 
here  about  eight  o'clock,  and  it  's  so  calm  now 
that  there  won't  be  any  trouble  in  putting  them 
aboard." 

I  wonder  if  the  steamer  was  stove  to  pieces  ?  " 
'  Joe  Gushing  was  the  last  man  in,  and  he  re- 
ported that  she  was  then  in  fair  condition  for  haul- 
ing off.  The  wrecking  crews  will  soon  be  at  work, 
and  if  the  weather  holds  good  it  may  be  possible  to 
save  her. ' ' 

'  Will  our  crew  be  called  upon  ?  " 
"  Not  a  bit  of  it.     All  that  is  done  by  contract, 
and  those  who  take  the  job  have  no  right  to  ask  for 
the  services  of  the  life-saving  men.     Why  don't  you 
take  a  spin  out  there,  an'  see  how  she  looks  ?  " 


"  NUMBER  EIGHT"  2OQ 

"  I  guess  it  '11  be  more  to  my  credit  if  I  stay  here 
pretty  close  while  there  's  so  much  work  to  be 
done,"  Benny  replied  with  a  laugh,  and  then,  his 
own  toilet  having  been  made,  he  set  about  combing 
Fluff,  an  operation  which  was  never  greatly  enjoyed 
by  the  dog. 

While  No.  8  was  busily  engaged  in  helping  the 
cook,  several  of  the  lady  passengers  from  the  steamer 
held  a  private  interview  with  Keeper  Downey,  and 
it  seemed  as  if  they  had  no  slight  amount  of  busi- 
ness to  settle,  for  not  until  breakfast  had  been 
served  did  the  conference  come  to  an  end. 

Before  the  meal  was  finished  a  tug  hove  to  off  the 
cove,  and  Sam  Hardy  announced  that  the  passengers 
from  the  stranded  steamer  could  be  put  on  board 
whenever  they  were  ready  to  leave. 

Before  taking  their  departure  every  woman  and 
man  shook  hands  most  cordially  with  Benny,  and 
one  of  the  ladies  whispered  in  his  ear: 

'  You  must  not  refuse  to  accept  what  has  been 
left  for  you  and  Fluff.  Each  of  us  considered  it  a 
favor  to  be  allowed  to  add  something,  and  when 
your  school  days  begin  it  will  be  needed." 

Benny  was  wholly  at  a  loss  to  understand  the 
meaning  of  these  words,  and  when  he  asked  Sam 
Hardy  if  he  knew  to  what  the  lady  referred,  that 
jolly  surfman  said  with  a  laugh : 

'  You  '11  find  out  in  time,  No.  8,  and  it  may  be 


210  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

worth  your  while  to  look  at  Article  151  of  the  Re- 
vised Regulations. ' ' 

Benny  waited  until  all  those  who  were  to  be  taken 
to  the  city  had  been  put  on  board  the  tug,  for  none 
but  the  passengers  were  to  leave  the  vicinity,  the  crew 
and  officers  of  the  steamer  remaining  to  assist  in  the 
labor  of  floating  the  steamer,  and  then  he  set  about 
finding  the  article  to  which  Sam  Hardy  referred. 

Twice  over  he  read  the  following  lines,  and  even 
then  he  was  puzzled  to  understand  what  bearing 
they  could  have  upon  the  remark  made  by  the  lady. 
'  The  regular  crews  of  stations  are  not  entitled  to 
salvage,  it  being  part  of  their  duty,  as  Government 
employees,  to  assist,  without  charge,  in  saving 
property  from  wrecked  vessels,  so  far  as  it  can  be 
done  without  interfering  with  the  duty  of  saving 
life,  which  must  always  be  the  paramount  consider- 
ation, or  injuring  the  effectiveness  of  the  appliances 
for  prompt  service  at  any  moment.  They  are  not, 
however,  prohibited  from  claiming  reasonable  com- 
pensation for  the  use  of  boats,  wagons,  or  other 
appliances,  personally  belonging  to  them,  which 
may  be  employed  upon  such  occasions,  nor  from 
receiving  such  rewards  for  labor  performed,  or  risk 
incurred  at  wrecks,  as  owners  or  masters  of  vessels 
or  other  persons  may  see  fit  to  voluntarily  bestow 
upon  them,  but  they  are  strictly  forbidden  to  solicit 
such  rewards." 


"  NUMBER   EIGHT."  211 

The  crew  of  the  station  had  not  been  served  with 
breakfast  before  the  departure  of  the  tug,  owing  to 
lack  of  space  for  so  many  in  the  mess-room,  there- 
fore they  were  alone  once  more  when  the  cook  sum- 
moned them  to  the  long-delayed  meal. 

As  he  took  his  seat  at  the  table,  Benny  fancied 
his  comrades  looked  unusually  sharp  at  him;  but  no 
one  made  any  comment,  until  the  hunger  of  all  had 
been  satisfied,  when  Keeper  Downey  asked : 

"  Did  n't  I  see  one  of  the  ladies  whispering  to 
you  just  before  the  passengers  went  on  board  the 
tug?" 

"  Yes,  sir,"  Benny  replied,  and  then  he  repeated 
what  she  had  said,  together  with  the  conversation 
between  himself  and  Sam  Hardy. 

"  Well,  did  you  look  up  Article  151  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir;  but  I  could  n't  find  out  anything  by 
that." 

"  I  '11  explain  it,  No.  8,  and  while  I  'm  doing  so 
remember  that  I  'm  the  captain  of  this  crew,  and 
my  orders  are  to  be  obeyed  without  question." 

'  Yes,    sir,"    Benny    said    hesitatingly,    almost 
alarmed  by  this  stern  reminder  of  authority. 

"  After  the  passengers  heard  what  Fluff  had  done, 
they  were  naturally  curious  to  know  why  a  lad  like 
you  was  living  in  such  a  place,  and  it  became  neces- 
sary to  tell  the  story.  You  can  hardly  wonder  that 
every  one  of  them  was  eager  to  show  due  apprecia- 


212  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

tion  of  our  services,  and  it  was  decided  among  them 
that  it  could  best  be  done  by  making  some  little 
provision  for  the  future  of  you  and  Fluff  C.  Foster, 
although  all  knew  you  belong  to  us,  if  it  so  chances 
that  no  relatives  come  forward  to  claim  you." 

"  I  have  n't  got  any  relatives,  except  it  might  be 
second-hand  ones  who  never  so  much  as  heard  of 
me,"  Benny  interrupted. 

"  We  can  almost  hope  you  have  n't,  No.  8,  for 
we  could  n't  afford  to  spare  you  from  this  'ere 
crew,"  Joe  Gushing  said  emphatically,  and  Tom 
Downey  motioned  that  all  remain  silent. 

'  The  passengers  made  up  a  purse  for  the  lad 
who,  unaided,  saved  the  lives  of  two  men,  and  in 
Article  151  you  '11  find  that  you  're  allowed  to  re- 
ceive whatever  may  be  given  you  voluntarily." 

"  Do  you  mean  that  they  've  paid  me  money  ?  " 
Benny  asked  sharply. 

'  Yes,  and  it  was  with  the  full  approval  of  every 
member  of  this  crew,  except  yourself.  By  making 
up  a  purse  for  you  and  Fluff,  a  great  compliment 
was  paid  to  us,  and  as  such  you  must  receive  it 
without  any  back  talk.  I  've  got  here  one  hundred 
and  thirty  dollars,  which  is  to  be  put  into  the  bank 
for  your  benefit,  and  as  the  lady  said,  it  will  come 
in  handy  when  you  begin  to  go  to  school." 

Mr.  Downey  displayed  the  money,  but  Benny 
made  no  attempt  to  touch  it,  and  Sam  Hardy  took 


"NUMBER  EIGHT."  21$ 

it  upon  himself  to  banish  the  lad's  scruples  in  regard 
to  receiving  it. 

"  There  ain't  a  man  among  us  who  would  refuse 
a  gift  made  in  the  same  spirit  that  was,  No.  8,  an' 
we  take  it  as  a  compliment  to  ourselves.  It  would 
have  pleased  us  better  if  the  passengers  themselves 
could  have  put  the  money  in  your  hands;  but  we 
felt  afraid  you  'd  be  so  backward  about  acceptin'  it 
as  to  give  them  the  idea  such  a  token  was  n't  to 
your  likin',  so  the  keeper  took  the  matter  in  charge. 
We  want  you  to  be  glad,  for  the  rest  of  us  are  feelin' 
mighty  fine  because  it  has  been  done." 

Benny  could  make  no  reply  just  then,  and  his 
comrades  understood  the  reason ;  but  later  he  came 
to  look  at  the  matter  in  a  different  light,  and  asked 
Tom  Downey  to  write  a  letter  thanking  the  pas- 
sengers for  their  kindness. 

The  crew  had  but  little  time  to  spend  on  private 
affairs  just  at  this  moment.  The  wrecking  crew 
went  to  work  on  the  stranded  steamer  that  same 
day,  and  all  hands  were  interested  in  watching  the 
operations,  which  were  not  brought  to  an  end  for 
many  days,  when  the  vessel  was  hauled  off  the 
shoal  with  no  more  damage  than  might  have  been 
expected. 

Some  time  before  the  work  came  to  an  end  the 
life-saving  crew  settled  down  once  more  to  the 
regular  routine  of  duty,  and  Sam  Hardy  suggested 


214  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

that  No.  8  spend  all  his  spare  time  studying  the 
printed  rules  for  the  management  of  open  row-boats 
in  a  surf. 

"  It  's  what  every  lad  should  know,  Benjamin, 
whether  he  counts  on  becoming  a  surfman  or  not, 
and  you  must  have  it  all  well  in  mind  before  spring, 
when  I  'm  goin'  to  give  you  plenty  of  practice  in 
such  work." 

Under  this  inducement  it  is  not  to  be  wondered 
at  that  Benny  at  once  became  unusually  studious, 
and  on  the  day  before  his  uniform  arrived,  it  was 
possible  for  him  to  repeat  all  which  is  here  set  down 
for  the  benefit  of  those  lads  who  may  not  have  such 
an  able  teacher  as  Sam  Hardy. 

"  As  a  general  rule,  speed  must  be  given  to  a 
boat  rowing  against  a  heavy  surf.  Indeed,  under 
some  circumstances,  her  safety  will  depend  on  the 
utmost  possible  speed  being  attained  on  meeting  a 
sea.  For  if  the  sea  be  really  heavy,  and  the  wind 
blowing  a  hard  on-shore  gale,  it  can  only  be  by  the 
utmost  exertions  of  the  crew  that  any  headway  can 
be  made.  The  great  danger  then  is,  that  an  ap- 
proaching heavy  sea  may  carry  the  boat  away  on  its 
front,  and  turn  it  broadside  on,  or  up-end  it,  either 
effect  being  immediately  fatal.  A  boat's  only 
chance  in  such  a  case  is  to  obtain  such  way  as  shall 
enable  her  to  pass,  end  on,  through  the  crest  of  the 
sea,  and  leave  it  as  soon  as  possible  behind  her. 


"NUMBER  EIGHT"  21$ 

Of  course,  if  there  be  a  rather  heavy  surf,  but  no 
wind,  or  the  wind  off  shore,  and  opposed  to  the  surf, 
as  is  often  the  case,  a  boat  might  be  propelled  so 
rapidly  through  it  that  her  bow  would  fall  more 
suddenly  and  heavily  after  topping  the  sea  than  if 
her  way  had  been  checked ;  and  it  may,  therefore, 
only  be  when  the  sea  is  of  such  magnitude,  and  the 
boat  of  such  a  character,  that  there  may  be  a  chance 
of  the  former  carrying  her  back  before  it,  that  full 
speed  should  be  given  her. 

It  may  also  happen  that,  by  careful  management 
under  such  circumstances,  a  boat  may  be  made  to 
avoid  the  sea,  so  that  each,  wave  may  break  ahead 
of  her,  which  may  be  the  only  chance  of  safety  in  a 
small  boat ;  but  if  the  shore  be  flat,  and  the  broken 
water  extends  to  a  great  distance  from  it,  this  will 
often  be  impossible. 

If  sufficient  command  can  be  kept  over  a  boat 
by  the  skill  of  those  on  board  her,  avoid  or  '  dodge  ' 
the  sea,  if  possible,  so  as  not  to  meet  it  at  the  mo- 
ment of  its  breaking  or  curling  over. 

Against  a  head  gale  and  heavy  surf,  get  all  pos- 
sible speed  on  a  boat  on  the  approach  of  every  sea 
which  cannot  be  avoided. 

"  If  more  speed  can  be  given  to  a  boat  than  is 
sufficient  to  prevent  her  being  carried  back  by  the 
surf,  her  way  may  be  checked  on  its  approach, 
which  will  give  her  an  easier  passage  over  it.  . 


2l6  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

'  The  one  great  danger,  when  running  before  a 
broken  sea,  is  that  of  broaching-to.  To  that  pecul- 
iar effect  of  the  sea,  so  frequently  destructive  of 
human  life,  the  utmost  attention  must  be  directed. 

The  cause  of  a  boat's  broaching-to  when  running 
before  a  broken  sea  or  surf  is,  that  her  own  motion 
being  in  the  same  direction  as  that  of  the  sea, 
whether  it  be  given  by  the  force  of  oars  or  sails,  or 
by  the  force  of  the  sea  itself,  she  opposes  no  resist- 
ance to  it,  but  is  carried  before  it.  Thus,  if  a  boat 
be  running  with  her  bow  to  the  shore  and  her  stern 
to  the  sea,  the  first  effect  of  the  surf  or  roller,  on  its 
overtaking  her,  is  to  throw  up  the  stern,  and  as  a 
consequence  to  depress  the  bow;  if  she  then  has 
sufficient  inertia  (which  will  be  proportional  to 
weight)  to  allow  the  sea  to  pass  her,  she  will  in  suc- 
cession pass  through  the  descending,  the  horizontal, 
and  the  ascending  positions,  as  the  crest  of  the  wave 
passes  successively  her  stern,  her  midships,  and 
her  bow,  in  the  reverse  order  in  which  the  same 
positions  occur  to  a  boat  propelled  to  seaward 
against  a  surf.  This  may  be  defined  as  the  safe 
mode  of  running  before  a  broken  sea. 

"  But  if  a  boat,  on  being  overtaken  by  a  heavy 
surf,  has  not  sufficient  inertia  to  allow  it  to  pass 
her,  the  first  of  the  three  positions  above  enumerated 
alone  occurs;  her  stern  is  raised  high  in  the  air,  and 
the  wave  carries  the  boat  before  it,  on  its  front  or 


' '  N  UMBER  EIGH  T"  2 1  / 

unsafe  side,  sometimes  with  frightful  velocity,  the 
bow  all  the  time  deeply  immersed  in  the  hollow  of 
the  sea,  where  the  water,  stationary  or  compara- 
tively so,  offers  a  resistance,  whilst  the  crest  of  the 
sea,  having  the  actual  motion  which  causes  it  to 
break,  forces  onward  the  stern  or  rear  end  of  the 
boat.  A  boat  will,  in  this  position  sometimes,  aided 
by  careful  oar-steerage,  run  a  considerable  distance 
until  the  wave  has  broken  and  expended  itself.  But 
it  will  often  happen  that  if  the  bow  be  low  it  will  be 
driven  under  water,  when,  the  buoyancy  being  lost 
forward,  whilst  the  sea  presses  on  the  stern,  the  boat 
will  be  thrown  (as  it  is  termed)  end  over  end ;  or,  if 
the  bow  be  high,  or  it  be  protected,  as  in  most  life- 
boats, by  a  bow  air-chamber,  so  that  it  does  not  be- 
come submerged,  that  the  resistance  forward,  acting 
on  one  bow,  will  slightly  turn  the  boat's  head,  and 
the  force  of  the  surf  being  transferred  to  the  opposite 
quarter,  she  will  in  a  moment  be  turned  round  broad- 
side by  the  sea,  and  be  thrown  by  it  on  her  beam- 
ends  or  altogether  capsized. 

Hence,  it  follows,  that  the  management  of  a 
boat,  when  landing  through  a  heavy  surf,  must,  as 
far  as  possible,  be  assimilated  to  that  when  proceed- 
ing to  seaward  against  one,  at  least  so  far  as  to  stop 
her  progress  shoreward  at  the  moment  of  being  over- 
taken by  a  heavy  sea,  and  thus  enabling  it  to  pass 
her.  There  are  different  ways  of  effecting  this  object  -• 


2l8  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

I.  By  turning  a  boat's  head  to  the  sea  before 
entering  the  broken  water,  and  then  backing  in 
stern  foremost,  pulling  a  few  strokes  ahead  to  meet 
each  heavy  sea,  and  then  again  backing  astern.  If 
the  sea  be  really  heavy  and  a  boat  small,  this  plan 
will  generally  be  the  safest,  as  a  boat  cannot  be 
kept  more  under  command  when  the  full  force  of 
the  oars  can  be  used  against  a  heavy  surf  than  by 
backing  them  only. 

"2.  If  rowing  to  shore  with  the  stern  to  seaward, 
by  backing  all  the  oars  on  the  approach  of  a  heavy 
sea,  and  rowing  ahead  again  as  soon  as  it  has  passed 
to  the  bow  of  the  boat,  thus  rowing  it  on  the  back 
of  the  wave;  or,  as  is  practiced  in  some  life-boats, 
placing  the  after-oarsmen  with  their  faces  forward 
and  making  them  row  back  at  each  sea  on  its  ap- 
proach. 

"3.  If  rowed  in  bow  foremost,  by  towing  astern 
a  pig  of  ballast  or  large  stone,  or  a  large  basket,  or 
canvas  bag,  termed  a  '  drogue  '  or  drag,  made  for 
the  purpose,  the  object  of  each  being  to  hold  the 
boat's  stern  back,  and  prevent  her  being  turned 
broadside  to  the  sea  or  broaching-to. 

"  Heavy  weights  should  be  kept  out  of  the  ex- 
treme ends  of  a  boat ;  but  when  rowing  before  a 
heavy  sea  the  best  trim  is  deepest  by  the  stern, 
which  prevents  the  stern  being  readily  thrown  on 
one  side  by  the  sea. 


"NUMBER  EIGHT."  2\g 

"  The  following  general  rules  may  therefore  be 
depended  on  when  running  before,  or  attempting  to 
land,  through  a  heavy  surf  or  broken  water. 

"  i.  As  far  as  possible,  avoid  each  sea  by  placing 
the  boat  where  the  sea  will  break  ahead  or  astern  of 
her. 

"2.  If  the  sea  be  very  heavy,  or  if  the  boat  be 
very  small,  and  especially  if  she  have  a  square  stern, 
bring  her  bow  round  to  seaward  and  back  her  in, 
rowing  ahead  against  each  heavy  surf  that  cannot 
be  avoided  sufficiently  to  allow  it  to  pass  the  boat. 

"3.  If  it  be  considered  safe  to  proceed  to  the 
shore  bow  foremost,  back  the  oars  against  each  sea 
on  its  approach,  so  as  to  stop  the  boat's  way  through 
the  water  as  far  as  possible,  and  if  there  is  a  drogue, 
or  any  other  instrument  in  the  boat  which  may  be 
used  as  one,  tow  it  astern  to  aid  in  keeping  the  boat 
end  on  to  the  sea,  which  is  the  chief  object  in  view. 

"  4.  Bring  the  principal  weights  in  the  boat 
towards  the  end  that  is  to  seaward,  but  not  to  the 
extreme  end." 

All  of  these  rules  Benny  was  called  upon  to  repeat 
aloud  before  the  entire  crew,  and  in  the  discussion 
which  followed  he  learned  very  much  which  would 
be  valuable  when  the  time  came  that  he  could  put 
the  teaching  into  practice;  but  all  his  comrades 
assured  him  that  if  he  would  keep  this  one  lesson 
well  in  mind,  he  might  be  depended  upon  to  man- 


22O  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

age  a  boat  in  broken  water  without  first  having  had 
any  experience. 

"  I  '11  be  glad  when  I  can  handle  the  surf-boat," 
he  said  as  he  took  Fluff  in  his  arms  preparatory  to 
going  to  bed. 

'  That  will  come  in  good  time,  lad,  never  fear," 
Keeper  Downey  said  cheerily;  "  but  you  '11  be 
called  upon  to  wait  patiently  until  warmer  weather 
is  here.  In  the  meantime  we  've  something  im- 
portant on  hand  to-morrow." 

Benny  looked  at  him  questioningly,  and  the 
keeper  asked : 

"  Have  you  forgotten  that  the  uniform  should  be 
done  by  this  time,  and  to-morrow  's  my  day  for 
going  into  the  city  ?  " 

"  I  did  n't  forget  it,  sir." 

"  Then  why  had  n't  you  spoken  about  it  ?  "  Joe 
Gushing  asked  impatiently. 

"  I  was  afraid  perhaps  Mr.  Downey  had  changed 
his  mind  about  going  to  the  city,  and  besides  I 
did  n't  want  you  to  think  I  could  n't  wait." 

"  There  's  little  fear  of  your  being  too  forward, 
my  lad,"  Sam  Hardy  said  with  a  hearty  laugh. 
"  We  must  see  to  it  that  you  're  called  regularly 
to  meals,  or  you  '11  get  the  idea  that  perhaps  we  'd 
like  it  better  if  you  missed  one  or  two.  The  uni- 
form is  to  be  here  to-morrow,  an'  if  anything  had 
prevented  the  keeper  from  going  to  town,  I  'd 


"  NUMBER  EIGHT"  221 

pulled  in  and  back  myself,  for  I  'm  mighty  anxious 
to  see  you  togged  out  in  proper  fashion,  even  if  you 
do  feel  so  moderate  about  it." 

"  Of  course  I  want  the  uniform,"  Benny  added 
quickly;  "  but  I  'd  rather  wait  a  week  than  have 
any  of  the  crew  put  themselves  out  to  get  it." 

Then  the  lad,  holding  the  dog  affectionately  in 
his  arms,  ascended  the  stairs  to  the  sleeping  quarters, 
and  when  he  had  disappeared  from  view,  Sam  Hardy 
said  emphatically: 

Accordin'  to  my  way  of  thinkin',  it  's  seldom 
you  run  across  so  good  a  lad  as  No.  8." 

You  're  right  there,"  Mr.  Downey  added. 
"  All  that  troubles  me  in  the  matter  is  the  fear  that 
we  may  not  be  doing  quite  our  duty  by  the  boy  in 
keeping  him  here  with  us,  when  he  should  be  at 
school." 

Don't  let  that  fret  you;  he  '11  learn  enough 
wherever  he  is,  an'  it  's  a  heap  of  satisfaction  to  the 
little  shaver  when  he  believes  he  's  paying  his  own 
way,"  Joe  Gushing  said  quickly,  and  Dick  Sawyer 
cried  emphatically: 

If  he  don't  do  all  of  that,  then  I  'd  like  to  see 
the  boy,  or  man  either  for  that  matter,  who  does!  " 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

THE   WRECKERS. 

The  crew  at  the  station  were,  even  under  ordinary 
circumstances,  out  of  bed  early  in  the  morning;  but 
since  the  wreckers  had  been  at  work  on  the  stranded 
steamer  there  was  little  possibility  any  one,  except  a 
very  deaf  person,  could  sleep  after  the  first  signs  of 
day  appeared  in  the  sky. 

The  wrecking  tugs,  when  they  did  not  return  to 
the  city  at  nightfall,  anchored  off  the  cove  near  the 
station,  and  their  whistles  were  sounded  vigorously 
fully  half  an  hour  before  daybreak,  in  order  that 
the  men  might  be  ready  for  work  as  soon  as  there 
was  sufficient  light. 

As  Sam  Hardy  said,  "  it  came  pretty  rough  on  a 
fellow  who  'd  been  patrolling  the  coast  till  mid- 
night, to  be  wakened  at  four  o'clock,"  but  grum- 
bling on  the  part  of  the  life  savers  effected  no  change 
in  the  situation,  and  as  a  rule  breakfast  had  been 
eaten  before  the  man  whose  tour  of  duty  ended 
only  at  daylight,  had  returned  to  the  station. 

222 


THE  WRECKERS,  22$ 

On  this  morning  when  Tom  Downey  was  to  visit 
the  city,  all  hands  had  been  awakened  even  earlier 
than  usual,  and  the  keeper  set  off  a  full  hour  before 
Joe  Gushing,  who  had  the  last  trick  at  patrolling, 
came  into  the  building. 

"  It  's  like  to  be  a  long  day  for  us,  lad,"  Sam 
Hardy  said  as  he  entered  the  kitchen  where  Benny 
was  washing  the  breakfast  dishes.  "  I  'm  thinkin' 
you  can't  be  so  very  busy  'twixt  now  an'  eleven 
o'clock.' 

'  There  's  nothing  to  be  done  around  the  house, 
so  I  counted  on  studying  the  Regulations  for  a 
while." 

It  won't  do  you  any  harm  to  drop  that  kind  of 
work  for  a  spell ;  you  already  know  more  of  that 
precious  book  than  any  of  us,  except  it  may  be  Tom 
Downey,  an'  there  's  danger  you  '11  grow  too  wise 
in  the  work  of  life-saving.  What  do  you  say  to 
havin'  a  look  at  the  wreckers  ?  They  are  gettin' 
well  along  with  their  job,  an'  I  allow  the  tugs  will 
make  a  try  at  pullin'  the  steamer  off  when  this  tide 
rises." 

"  I  'd  like  to  go  if  it  would  be  all  right  to  leave," 
Benny  said  thoughtfully,  as  he  looked  inquiringly 
at  the  cook,  and  the  latter  replied  to  the  unspoken 
question : 

'  There  's  no  reason  why  you  should  n't  have  an 
outin',  lad.  It  '11  do  you  solid  good,  for  you  've 


2?4  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

been  shut  up  here  too  long.  What  about  Fluff  C. 
Foster  ?  " 

"  I  would  n't  like  to  take  him  with  me,  for  it  's 
too  cold  on  the  rocks,  and  where  there  are  so  many 
men  at  work  he  might  get  hurt." 

"  Very  well,  leave  him  behind,  an'  I  '11  answer 
for  it  that  he  comes  to  no  harm.  Maje  has  given 
over  all  ideas  of  botherin'  him,  and,  besides,  if  you 
say  the  word,  he  sha'n't  be  allowed  to  poke  his  pink 
nose  out  of  doors." 

Benny  put  on  the  pea-jacket  which  was  large 
enough  to  serve  him  as  an  overcoat,  pulled  the  flaps 
of  the  sou'-wester  over  his  ears,  and,  just  as  the  sun 
was  coming  up  from  behind  the  restless  expanse  of 
water,  the  two  set  out,  walking  at  full  speed,  for 
the  cold  was  too  intense  to  admit  of  any  pleasant 
lingering  by  the  way. 

When  they  arrived  at  the  scene  of  the  wrecking 
operations  it  appeared  very  much  to  No.  8  as  if  Joe 
Gushing  had  made  a  mistake  when  he  declared  that 
the  steamer  might  be  saved.  To  the  lad  she  looked 
like  a  hopeless  wreck. 

The  sea  had  thrown  her  on  her  beam  ends,  and 
then  forced  her  so  high  up  on  the  shoal  that  nearly 
half  the  bottom  was  exposed  to  view.  The  bridge, 
a  greater  portion  of  both  rails,  and  nearly  every- 
thing on  deck  was  missing,  while  the  wreckage  along 
shore  explained  where  the  top-hammer  had  gone. 


THE  WRECKERS.  22$ 

"  Been  used  rather  rough,  eh  ?  "  Hardy  said  as 
he  and  Benny  stood  on  the  cliff  where  a  full  view  of 
the  wreck  could  be  had. 

"  It  does  n't  seem  possible  that  they  can  get  her 
off,  or,  even  if  that  might  be  done,  that  she  would 
be  fit  for  sea  again." 

"  In  a  mishap  like  this  the  worst  of  the  mischief 
is  all  on  the  outside,  lad.  Most  likely  her  hull  is  as 
sound  as  ever,  and  it  only  remains  to  get  her  afloat, 
when  a  little  carpenter-work  will  finish  the  job. 
It  's  a  pity  the  steamers  could  n't  go  alongside,  for 
then  she  might  be  raised  in  short  order." 

The  wrecking  tugs  were  lying  some  distance  off 
shore,  and  lighters  had  been  drifted  down  over  the 
shoal  to  the  steamer's  side.  A  large  number  of  men 
were  at  work  making  ready  to  break  the  cargo; 
others  were  running  out  anchors  to  prevent  her 
being  driven  any  further  ashore,  and  yet  another 
crew  was  gathering  up  the  odds  and  ends  which  had 
been  driven  ashore. 

Half  a  dozen  small  boats  were  moving  back  and 
forth  from  the  steamer  to  the  shore,  and  after  sur- 
veying the  scene  from  the  cliff  until  the  chilling 
wind  suggested  a  retreat,  Sam  Hardy  said : 

It  would  n't  be  a  bad  idea  to  go  on  board,  lad. 
What  do  you  say  to  looking  the  old  hooker  over  ? " 

"  Do  you  think  they  '11  allow  us  on  her,  sir  ?  " 

"  I  reckon  there  won't  be  any  great  row  about  it, 
15 


226  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

lad.  After  what  our  crew,  an'  especially  you,  have 
done,  it  would  be  odd  if  we  should  be  warned  to 
keep  off." 

Benny  was  eager  for  a  nearer  view  of  the  steamer, 
and  Sam  led  the  way  down  to  the  narrow  beach 
where  so  much  of  heroism  had  been  displayed. 

Hello,  mates,  will  you  take  us  off  to  the 
wreck  ?  "  Sam  cried  to  four  men  who  were  launch- 
ing a  surf-boat  bearing  the  name  of  a  well-known 
wrecking  tug. 

'  That  we  will,  although  I  should  think  you 
might  have  seen  enough  already  of  yonder  steamer," 
one  of  the  party  replied  cheerily. 

'  We  had  too  big  a  job  on  our  hands  to  spend 
very  much  time  in  looking  her  over;  but  it  's  pos- 
sible to  take  things  easier  this  morning,  an'  I  'd  like 
to  see  how  badly  she  's  been  punished,"  Sam  replied 
as  he  and  Benny  stood  by  to  take  their  places  in 
the  boat. 

"  She  is  n't  in  bad  shape,  an'  if  the  weather  holds 
good  we  '11  soon  have  her  afloat,"  he  who  was  in 
charge  of  the  boat  said  in  a  matter-of-fact  tone,  and 
after  they  had  put  off  he  asked,  nodding  toward 
Benny : 

"  Is  that  lad  a  member  of  the  crew  ?  " 

"  Ay,  that  he  is,  an*  one  who  don't  spend  much 
idle  time  when  we  're  pushed,  as  was  the  case  when 
this  steamer  came  ashore." 


THE  WRECKERS.  227 

"  Where  's  the  boy  who  hauled  the  two  sailors 
out  of  the  water  ?  The  steamer's  captain  was  tellin' 
about  it." 

"  This  is  the  same  identical  lad,"  Sam  replied 
with  a  laugh. 

"  That  little  shaver  could  n't  haul  his  own  weight 
through  such  a  surf  as  was  runnin'  when  yonder 
craft  struck  the  shoal,"  the  man  replied  decidedly, 
giving  no  more  than  a  passing  glance  at  Benny, 
who  looked  even  smaller  than  ever  beneath  the 
huge  pea-jacket. 

"  But  he  did,  matey,  an,'  what  's  more,  set  about 
it  in  sailor-like  fashion,  finishin'  the  job  as  quickly 
as  you  or  I  could  have  done  it." 

Then  Sam  went  into  the  details  of  the  rescue 
effected  by  Benny,  while  the  lad  kept  his  face 
turned  seaward  lest  the  men  should  see  and  laugh 
at  his  blushes. 

"  Well,  that  beats  me!  "  the  sailor  at  the  helm 
cried  when  Sam's  story  was  come  to  an  end.  "  A 
lad  who  can  do  such  a  trick  as  that  while  everything 
is  in  confusion,  as  it  must  have  been  then,  has  good 
stuff  in  him." 

That  's  what  he  has,"  Sam  replied  proudly, 
"  an'  we  put  on  a  good  many  airs  because  he  be- 
longs to  our  crew." 

From  this  moment  Benny  received  far  more  at- 
tention than  was  altogether  agreeable  to  him.  The 


228  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

crew  of  the  surf-boat  told  those  on  board  the 
steamer  that  he  was  the  lad  who  had  displayed  so 
much  bravery  and  sound  common-sense  when 
human  lives  were  in  danger,  and  every  man  seemed 
eager  to  give  him  some  word  of  praise,  until  the 
boy  was  so  uncomfortable  in  mind  that  he  wished 
heartily  he  had  never  been  tempted  to  visit  the 
wreck. 

The  workmen  had  more  important  matters  to  oc- 
cupy their  attention,  however,  and  after  devoting  a 
few  moments  to  No.  8  they  left  him  alone  with  Sam 
Hardy,  who  said  with  a  hearty  laugh : 

'  You  've  made  a  big  reputation  for  yourself,  lad, 
and  this  summer,  when  visitors  come  out  to  the 
station,  as  they  do  nearly  every  pleasant  day,  we  '11 
be  obliged  to  trot  you  and  Fluff  C.  Foster  out  on 
parade  as  our  swell  life  savers." 

'  Then  I  sha'n't  want  to  stay  there.  I  would  n't 
have  come  over  here  if  I  'd  known  the  men  would 
say  so  much." 

Why,  surely,  you  're  not  ashamed   of  yester- 
day's work,  lad  ?  " 

'  Not  because  I  helped  the  men  ashore;  but  it 
makes  me  feel  mean  to  hear  people  praising  me  for 
doing  what  any  other  fellow  would  have  done.  It 
must  be  a  pretty  poor  kind  of  a  boy  who  could  n't 
throw  a  rope  out  to  a  drowning  man,  and  I  'd 
missed  both  of  them  if  the  wind  had  n't  sent  the 


THE  WRECKERS.  22Q 

coils  in  a  different  direction  from  which  I  was  aim- 
ing." 

"  Well,  Benjamin,  allow  it  all  to  be  as  you  've 
said,  you  '11  have  to  put  up  with  some  praise  for  a 
spell,  an'  then  folks  will  forget  it,  for  in  this  world 
a  fellow  can't  live  very  long  on  what  he  's  done  in 
the  past.  They  're  takin'  off  the  hatches  now,  an' 
I  'm  minded  to  have  a  look  at  the  hold  of  this  'ere 
craft.  Come  on." 

Benny  followed,  but  there  was  to  him  nothing 
particularly  interesting  in  the  cargo,  and  as  it  could 
not  be  seen  from  the  deck,  he  left  Sam  and  went 
aft,  where  he  might  watch  the  movements  of  the 
tugs  as  they  pulled  the  lighters  here  and  there  in 
such  position  that  the  wind  and  current  would  send 
them  down  over  the  shoal  to  the  wreck. 

This  last  portion  of  the  work  soon  engrossed  the 
attention  of  all  the  wrecking  crew,  including  those 
who  had  been  making  an  examination  of  the  steam- 
er's hold,  for  considerable  difficulty  was  experienced 
in  moving  the  heavy  lighters  to  and  fro,  and  after  a 
time  Benny  realized  that  he  and  Sam  were  the  only 
ones  left  aboard  the  steamer. 

"  We  '11  be  obliged  to  stay  here  till  one  of  the 
boats  is  alongside,"  he  said  to  himself,  and  then 
came  the  thought  that  he  was  spending  too  much 
time  in  pleasuring  when  he  should  be  attending  to 
his  regular  duties  in  the  station  kitchen. 


230  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

"  Perhaps  Mr.  Hardy  will  be  ready  to  go  now," 
he  said,  running  forward  toward  the  hatch  where 
the  surfman  had  last  been  seen. 

The  decks  were  deserted,  and  he  saw  no  signs  of 
life  on  the  ship.  It  was  as  if  he  had  been  aban- 
doned, and  but  for  the  many  craft  near  at  hand  he 
might  have  had  a  very  disagreeable  sensation  of 
utter  loneliness.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  something 
much  like  a  shudder  of  fear  came  over  him  with  the 
first  knowledge  that  he  was  alone ;  but  he  forced  it 
back  with  a  laugh  as  he  said  aloud : 

"  If  people  could  know  that  I  'm  almost  afraid  of 
being  here,  even  though  there  are  an  hundred  men 
within  hail,  I  would  n't  need  to  bother  my  head 
about  being  called  a  hero  when  I  don't  deserve  the 
name." 

As  he  ceased  speaking  an  odd,  indistinct  murmur 
came  from  the  dark  hold,  causing  him  to  step  back 
toward  the  rail  quickly ;  but  he  advanced  again  an 
instant  later,  angry  with  himself  for  being  such  a 
coward. 

Once  more  came  that  strange  noise;  but,  half- 
expecting  it,  Benny  held  his  ground,  determined  to 
learn  the  cause,  since,  until  Sam  Hardy  should  re- 
turn, he  had  nothing  better  with  which  to  occupy 
himself. 

Leaning  over  the  hatch  he  peered  down  into  the 
darkness. 


THE  WRECKERS.  23! 

The  space  between  decks  was  apparently  empty, 
and  he  heard  the  water  gurgling  far  below  in  the 
lower  hold. 

"  That  must  be  what  I  heard,"  he  said,  speaking 
aloud,  and  the  words  had  no  more  than  been  uttered 
when  it  seemed  as  if  amid  the  gurgling  noise  he 
could  distinguish  his  own  name. 

"  Ahoy!  "  he  cried,  smiling  to  think  he  should 
be  so  foolish  as  to  answer  the  water;  but  an  instant 
later  his  face  grew  pale  as  he  heard  plainly  the 
words : 

''Benny!     Benny  Foster!  " 

There  was  but  one  in  the  vicinity  who  would  thus 
address  him,  and  although  it  seemed  impossible 
Sam  Hardy  could  be  in  that  apparently  empty  hold, 
he  leaned  far  over  as  he  shouted : 

"  Is  that  you,  Mr.  Hardy  ?  " 

"  Ay,  lad,  corne  quick!  I  can't  hold  out  much 
longer!  " 

Now  Benny  was  alarmed,  and  with  good  cause. 

Leading  down  to  the  second  deck  was  a  single 
stanchion ;  the  ladder  had  been  torn  or  carried 
away.  Heeled  over  as  the  steamer  was,  this  tim- 
ber stood  at  an  inclination  of  forty-five  degrees,  and 
at  its  foot  the  deck  had  about  the  same  inclination 
in  the  opposite  direction. 

Benny  waited  only  so  long  as  was  necessary  in 
order  to  throw  off  his  pea-jacket,  and  then  slipped 


232  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

down  the  stanchion,  holding  hard  on  reaching  the 
deck  below  lest  he  should  slide  to  port. 

Here  all  was  darkness,  save  for  the  square  of  gray 
light  that  marked  the  location  of  the  hatch,  and 
the  lad  tried  in  vain  to  pierce  it  with  his  eyes  in 
search  for  the  surfman. 

'  Where  are  you,  Mr.  Hardy  ?  "  he  cried  falter- 
ingly.  '  I  can't  make  out  anything." 

Hanging  by  a  rope  below  the  second  hatchway. 
It  swings  so  far  to  port  that  I  can't  pull  myself  up, 
and  I  don't  dare  to  drop  for  fear  the  distance  may 
be  too  great.  Lean  over  and  try  to  get  hold  of  me, 
lad ;  I  only  need  a  little  aid,  for  it  is  possible  to 
help  myself  a  good  bit." 

Now  it  was  only  necessary  Benny  should  feel 
along  the  upper  side  of  the  hatchway  in  order  to 
find  the  rope  by  which  the  surfman  was  suspended, 
and  the  first  thought  was  that  he  could  readily  pull 
his  comrade  up. 

With  the  deck  at  such  an  inclination  he  could  get 
no  secure  foothold, and  the  first  attempt  was  sufficient 
to  show  him  that  the  task  was  beyond  his  strength. 

"  Can  you  wait  till  I  go  on  the  upper  deck  ?  "  he 
asked  anxiously.  '  There  are  plenty  of  men  close 
by;  but  all  hands  have  left  the  steamer." 

"  Go  ahead,  lad,  but  move  quickly.  I  've  hung 
here  until  it  seems  as  if  my  arms  were  pulled  out  of 
their  sockets." 


THE  WRECKERS.  233 

Benny  sought  the  stanchion  by  which  he  had  de- 
scended, and,  gaining  it,  soon  understood  that  he 
could  no  more  work  his  way  unaided  to  the  top  than 
Hardy  could  swarm  up  the  rope  while  it  swung  so 
far  away  from  the  side  of  the  vessel. 

It  seemed  to  him  as  if  he  had  spent  many  minutes 
in  the  vain  task,  when  in  reality  no  more  than  a 
dozen  seconds  had  been  sufficient  in  which  to  prove 
that  it  was  useless,  and  then  he  allowed  himself  to 
fall  back  again  toward  where  the  rope  was  made  fast. 

I  can't  get  up,"  he  cried  in  a  tearful  voice. 
"  Suppose  I  lean  way  over  the  hatch  till  you  can 
get  hold  of  my  arms  ?  The  two  of  us  should  be 
able  to  work  it  in  that  fashion." 

I  'd  pull  you  down,  lad;  there  's  no  use  in  try- 
ing anything  like  that.  If  it  's  certain  you  can't 
get  on  deck,  I  '11  take  the  chances  of  what  may  be 
below,  an'  drop." 

Don't  do  it!  Don't  do  it!  Let  me  try  just 
once!  "  and  without  waiting  for  a  reply  Benny  bent 
far  over  the  combing  of  the  hatch,  twining  his  legs 
around  the  stanchion. 

By  letting  himself  down  nearly  at  full  length  he 
found  to  his  great  joy  that  he  could  touch  the  surf- 
man's  shoulders. 

Now  I  '11  get  hold,  and  you  shall  put  your  arms 
around  my  neck,"  he  cried  as  if  asking  some  great 
favor. 


234  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

"  Don't  try  it,  lad,  for  I  '11  surely  drag  you  down. 
It  may  be  that  I  can  drop  without  much  hurt,  and 
even  a  broken  bone  to  one,  is  better  than  for  us  to 
fall  together." 

'  Try  it!  "  Benny  screamed,  seizing  Sam  by  the 
neck.  "  Get  hold  of  me!  " 

The  surfman  had  no  alternative,  unless  the  boy 
should  loosen  his  hold,  and,  letting  go  of  the  rope 
with  one  hand,  he  clasped  the  other  around  Benny's 
arms. 

"  Now  get  hold  with  the  other,  and  then  shin  up! 
I  can  hold  on  here  quite  a  spell!  " 

Even  now  the  heavy  strain  was  beginning  to  tell 
upon  the  lad,  and  Sam  understood  that  if  anything 
was  to  be  accomplished  it  must  be  done  in  the 
shortest  possible  space  of  time. 

Wearied  though  he  was  by  his  previous  vain  exer- 
tions, he  put  forth  all  his  strength  for  the  last  effort, 
and  in  so  doing  knew  full  well  he  inflicted  grievous 
pain  upon  the  little  fellow  who  was  ready  to  take 
any  chances  in  order  to  aid  him. 

With  a  firm  hold  of  Benny's  body  the  surfman 
was  enabled  to  climb  upward,  and  in  a  few  seconds, 
which  must  have  seemed  to  the  boy  like  ten  times 
that  number  of  minutes,  he  succeeded  in  clutching 
the  combing  of  the  hatch. 

Dragging  himself  over  he  seized  No.  8's  legs,  and 
none  too  soon,  for  the  boy's  strength  was  exhausted, 


THE  WRECKERS. 

and  at  the  very  instant  Sam  grasped  him  he  was 
forced  to  let  go  his  hold. 

A  moment  later  the  two  were  lying  along  the  side 
of  the  hatch  panting  for  breath,  but  in  no  further 
danger  of  a  fall,  and  some  time  elapsed  before  the 
silence  was  broken. 

Then  Sam  said,  groping  about  in  the  darkness  for 
Benny's  hands,  and  holding  them  firmly  as  he  spoke : 

"  It  may  be,  lad,  that  I  made  all  that  trouble  for 
nothing.  It  is  possible  the  cargo  was  within  a  few 
inches  of  my  feet  as  I  hung  on  the  rope ;  but  that  I 
could  n't  know,  and  it  was  the  fear  of  shattering  a 
bone  which  caused  me  to  hold  on  and  yell  for  help. 
A  surfman  with  a  broken  leg  might  lose  a  whole 
season's  work,  seein*  's  the  damage  would  n't  have 
been  done  in  line  of  duty." 

"  It  's  lucky  I  heard  you.  If  all  hands  had  n't 
left  the  steamer,  perhaps  I  should  n't  have  tried  to 
find  out  where  you  had  gone." 

"  Do  you  know,  lad,  that  you  did  a  brave  thing 
in  takin'  the  chances  of  my  pullin'  you  into  the 
hold  with  me  ?  " 

"  I  do  hope  you  won't  make  such  talk,  Mr. 
Hardy,"  Benny  cried  pleadingly.  "  I  ain't  brave, 
for  I  was  terribly  frightened  when  that  queer  noise 
came  out  of  the  hold. 

"  I  noticed  that  you  kept  on  trying  to  find  out 
what  it  was." 


236  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

1  Yes,  sir,  because  I  'd  been  ashamed  to  have  it 
said  I  was  scared  at  a  noise." 

'  Well,  hark  you,  Benny,  I  won't  say  anything 
more  about  your  being  a  little  hero,  although  I  may 
think  so  just  the  same,  and  in  return  you  shall  keep 
quiet  about  this  bit  of  trouble." 

"  Don't  you  want  any  one  to  know  of  it,  sir  ?  " 
'  Indeed,  I  don't,  No.  8.  It  would  n't  sound 
very  well  if  you  should  tell  that  an  old  hand  like 
Sam  Hardy  let  himself  into  the  hold  of  a  wreck  by 
a  rope  which  he  could  n't  come  back  on.  The  boys 
never  'd  stop  making  fun  of  me,  an'  more  especially 
if  it  turns  out  that  I  was  hangin'  all  that  time  within 
two  or  three  feet  of  the  cargo.  Now,  is  it  a  bargain 
that  both  of  us  are  to  keep  this  'ere  business  a  pro- 
found secret  ?  " 

"  I  '11  never  tell,  sir,  though  I  can't  see  that  you 
have  anything  to  be  ashamed  of,  for  nobody  would 
want  to  take  such  chances  as  might  have  come.  But 
how  are  we  going  to  get  out  ?  While  the  steamer  is 
heeled  over  so  badly  I  can't  climb  up  the  stanchion. 

"  We  '11  hold  on  a  spell,  till  you  're  rested,  and 
then  I 'can  give  you  a  lift  up  on  my  shoulder." 

'  I  'm  ready  to  try  now,  sir.  I  was  n't  very 
tired — only  for  a  minute  or  two." 

"  You're  a  lad  after  my  own  heart,  Benjamin,  an' so 
long  as  I  have  a  dollar  or  a  shelter,  half  of  it  belongs 
to  you !  Now  then,  get  up  on  my  shoulder,  an*  once 


THE  WRECKERS.  237 

we  're  on  deck  it  's  the  same  as  if  this  foolish  thing 
never  happened,  except  when  we  two  are  alone." 

Benny  scrambled  up  as  Sam  had  directed,  and 
then  the  surfman,  cautioning  him  to  keep  his  knees 
stiff,  lifted  the  lad  straight  above  his  head  until  he 
could  seize  the  hatch-combing. 

Once  on  deck  he  let  down  a  length  of  rope,  and 
Sam  Hardy  was  soon  released  from  his  temporary 
prison. 

I  reckon  I  'd  better  get  back  to  the  station 
right  away,  or  I  '11  be  getting  into  more  mischief, 
like  some  youngster,"  the  surfman  said  grimly  as  he 
shouted  to  the  crew  of  a  small  boat  at  hand  to  take 
him  ashore. 

The  captain  of  one  of  the  wrecking  tugs  came 
alongside  at  this  moment,  and,  seeing  Sam,  cried. 

"  Don't  be  in  a  hurry,  Hardy.  I  'in  going  to 
have  a  look  at  the  cargo,  and  you  'd  better  go  with 
me.  It  '11  be  interesting  to  find  out  how  well  it 
was  stowed." 

Do  you  know  what  she  's  loaded  with  ?  " 

"  Pig-iron." 

It  won't  interest  me  to  see  it,  and,  besides,  I  've 
been  down  in  the  hold  quite  a  spell  already." 

How  are  things  there  ?  " 

'  To  tell  the  truth,  I  did  n't  see  very  much;  I 
had  business  of  my  own  before  I  'd  been  there 
many  minutes.  You  '11  need  a  lantern." 


238  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

Then  Sam  went  over  the  rail  into  the  boat  which 
had  come  alongside  to  take  him  off,  Benny  following 
close  behind  as  a  matter  of  course,  and  when  the 
two  were  on  shore  again  the  surfman  said: 

"  It  would  have  been  odd  if  I  'd  dropped  onto 
that  metal  without  doing  myself  some  serious  in- 
jury. There  's  no  longer  any  question,  lad,  but 
that  you  pulled  me  out  of  a  bad  place." 

"  I  'm  glad,"  Benny  replied  emphatically. 

"  Accordin'  to  my  way  of  thinkin'  there  'd  be 
more  reason  for  gladness  if  I  had  never  been  such  a 
bloomin'  idiot  as  to  go  down  there." 

"  Perhaps  so,  sir;  but,  so  long  as  you  did,  I  'm  glad 
I  was  the  one  who  pulled  you  out,  for  it 's  likely  to  be 
the  only  chance  I  '11  ever  have  of  doing  you  a  favor. 

"  I  'm  not  so  certain  of  that,  No.  8,  if  you  stay 
around  the  station  as  long  as  we  '11  be  glad  to  have 
you.  In  this  life  of  ours  there  are  many  times  when 
a  fellow's  mate  can  do  very  much  toward  savin'  his 
life,  an'  you  're  just  the  kind  of  a  comrade  who  can 
be  depended  upon  to  do  pretty  near  the  right  thing 
at  the  right  time." 

Never  since  the  morning  when  he  first  found  him- 
self in  the  life-saving  station  had  Benny  felt  so 
proud  and  happy  as  at  this  moment,  and  he  walked 
by  Sam  Hardy's  side  unable  to  speak  because  of  the 
great  joy  in  his  heart. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

LIVELY   WORK. 

When  Sam  Hardy  and  Benny  returned  to  the  life- 
saving  station  no  mention  was  made  regarding  the 
misadventure  on  board  the  wreck,  although  the 
former  described  in  detail  to  his  comrades  all  he  had 
seen  on  or  around  the  steamer. 

Benny's  greatest  fear  was  lest  the  cook  might 
question  him  so  closely  that  it  would  become  nec- 
essary to  remain  silent  or  betray  the  secret,  and 
then  the  crew  would  understand  that  the  two  had 
had  some  unpleasant  experience. 

Fortunately,  however,  all  hands  applied  to  Sam 
for  information,  and  he  was  able  to  lead  the  conver- 
sation into  some  other  channel  whenever  anything 
was  said  regarding  the  hold  of  the  steamer. 

Then  some  sailors  from  one  of  the  tugs  came  into 
the  station,  and  the  crew  no  longer  showed  any  de- 
sire to  learn  what  Hardy  and  No.  8  had  seen,  much 
to  the  relief  of  the  latter. 

Benny  and  Fluff  spent  several  hours  during  the 
239 


240  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

afternoon  with  the  lookout  on  the  hill,  and  when 
Keeper  Downey  hove  in  sight  the  lad  walked  slowly 
toward  the  station,  whispering  to  the  dog  in  his 
arms: 

It  won't  do,  Fluffy  to  rush  right  up  the  minute 
Mr.  Downey  gets  back  and  ask  to  see  the  uniform ; 
but  I  do  hope  it  won't  be  very  long  before  he  shows 
us  what  he  has  brought." 

By  the  time  Benny  arrived  at  the  boat-house  door 
the  keeper  was  mooring  his  dory,  and  a  few  mo- 
ments later  the  lad  saw  him  step  ashore  with  a  pack- 
age in  his  arms  so  large  that  it  hid  at  least  half  of 
his  body  from  view. 

'  He  has  really  brought  the  clothes,  Fluffy,  and 
it  ought  n't  to  be  such  a  dreadful  while  before  we 
can  look  at  them,  because  supper  won't  be  ready 
for  two  hours,  and  he  '11  have  nothing  else  to  do 
except  show  all  hands  what  the  tailor  has  made." 

Benny  was  not  kept  long  in  suspense.  As  Tom 
Downey  approached  the  building  he  cried  to  the 
expectant  lad: 

"  Come  into  the  mess-room,  No.  8;  I  've  brought 
home  all  your  finery,  and  the  crew  will  be  wantin' 
to  see  how  you  look  in  the  uniform." 

Benny  answered  the  summons  hastily,  and  Fluff 
ran  at  his  heels  barking  shrilly,  as  if  he  had  some 
personal  interest  in  that  which  the  keeper  was  carry- 
ing. 


LIVELY  WORK.  241 

With  the  exception  of  Robbins,  who  was  acting 
as  lookout,  every  member  of  the  crew  was  awaiting 
Tom  Downey's  arrival  when  he  entered,  looking 
particularly  cheerful. 

"  I  've  got  all  I  went  for,  and  a  little  besides," 
lie  said,  still  holding  the  package  in  his  arms. 
"  What's  more,  I  have  n't  taken  advantage  of  you 
fellows  by  looking  at  the  toggery.  It  was  wrapped 
up  when  I  got  to  the  tailor's,  and  beyond  the  little 
he  told  me,  I  know  no  more  about  what  's  inside  the 
paper  than  you  do.  Now  I  propose  that  Benny  take 
this  bundle,  go  up-stairs,  put  on  the  uniform,  and 
dazzle  us  all  by  suddenly  appearing  as  a  full-fledged 
life-saver." 

"  That  's  the  way  to  fix  it!  "  Sam  Hardy  cried 
enthusiastically.  "  Get  along,  No.  8,  an'  don't 
spend  too  much  time  primpin',  for  we  're  achin'  to 
get  a  sight  of  you  in  brass  buttons." 

Benny  did  as  he  was  bidden,  and  a  few  moments 
after  he  had  disappeared  up  the  stairway  those  be- 
low heard  an  exclamation  of  astonishment,  followed 
an  instant  later  by  the  question : 

"  What  's  that  other  thing,  Mr.  Downey  ?  " 
'  The  tailor  said  he  'd  put  in  something  on  his 
own  account  for  Fluff.     Try  it  on  and  send  him 
down." 

The  crew  were  wholly  at  a  loss  to  understand  the 
meaning  of  this  brief  conversation  until  the  dog 

16 


242  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

came  down-stairs  at  full  speed,  yelping  and  barking 
as  if  in  the  highest  state  of  excitement  and  pleasure. 

A  roar  of  laughter  burst  from  the  men  when  the 
little  fellow  sat  up  on  his  tail  in  the  centre  of  the 
room,  as  if  asking  that  he  be  admired.  Over  his 
silken  white  hair  was  strapped  a  tiny,  blue  broad- 
cloth blanket,  on  the  two  rear  corners  of  which  was 
worked  in  white  silk  the  letters  "  L.  S.  S.,"  so  dis- 
posed as  to  form  a  fanciful  monogram. 

'Three  cheers  for  No.  9!"  Joe  Gushing  cried, 
and  this  was  responded  to  with  such  good-will  that 
Fluff  hurriedly  ran  back  to  his  master,  thoroughly 
frightened  by  the  noisy  demonstration. 

"  Don't  he  look  great  ?  "  Benny  cried,  and  Tom 
Downey  replied  with  a  laugh : 

'  Indeed  he  does,  lad;  but  you  need  n't  stay  up 
there  admiring  him,  for  we  're  more  anxious  to  see 
your  rig." 

Then,  moving  slowly  and  shyly,  as  if  almost 
ashamed  of  his  fine  feathers,  Benny  made  his  ap- 
pearance on  the  stairs,  and  it  was  an  exclamation  of 
genuine  admiration  with  which  he  was  greeted. 
The  little  fellow  looked  manly  in  the  neatly  fitting 
suit  of  blue,  bedecked  with  brass  buttons,  and  very 
proud  withal,  for,  although  he  considered  himself  a 
member  of  the  crew,  the  fact  had  never  seemed  so 
real  to  him  as  at  this  moment  when  he  was  attired 
as  a  life  saver. 


LIVELY  WORK.  243 

The  deep  crimson  blood  came  into  his  cheeks  as 
he  stood  before  the  men,  in  obedience  to  orders, 
turning  here  and  there  as  one  or  the  other  dictated, 
and  listening  all  the  while  to  words  of  praise  and 
genuine  admiration. 

"It  's  all  right,  No.  8,"  Sam  Hardy  said  at 
length.  "  I  was  almost  afraid  that  tailor  might  rig 
you  out  like  a  jumping-jack,  with  a  lot  of  folderols 
that  had  no  place  on  a  life  saver's  uniform ;  but 
he  's  gone  straight  with  the  orders  I  gave  him,  an' 
the  job  could  n't  be  improved  on." 

Don't  forget  that  you  're  to  go  into  town  with 
me  when  next  I  have  leave  of  absence, ' '  Joe  Gushing 
cried,  and  then  some  one  called  attention  to  Fluff, 
who  was  sitting  on  the  topmost  step,  still  clad  in 
uniform,  wagging  his  tail  vigorously  as  if  ask- 
ing whether  it  would  be  safe  for  him  to  venture 
down. 

"  Call  your  partner,  No.  8,  an'  let  's  see  how  the 
two  of  you  look  together." 

During  fully  five  minutes  Benny  and  Fluff  were 
forced  to  walk  here  or  there  in  order  that  the  men 
might  have  good  opportunity  for  seeing  them  in  all 
possible  lights,  and  then  Mr.  Downey  suggested 
that  the  lad  show  himself  in  civilian's  garb. 

No.  8  obeyed  very  readily,  almost  glad  to  escape 
from  that  atmosphere  of  praise,  and  when  he  next 
appeared  it  was  in  a  suit  of  clothes  such  as  any 


244 


THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 


well-dressed  boy  ten  or  twelve  years  of  age  would 
be  expected  to  display. 


A  blue  blouse  with  a  rolling  collar,  sailor-fashion, 
knickerbockers,  stockings,  and  a  jacket  of  the  same 
color,  the  clothing  trimmed  neatly  with  white  braid. 


LIVELY  WORK.  245 

made  of  him,  as  Dick  Sawyer  said,  "  a  perfect  little 
gentleman. " 

'  You  look  best  in  whichever  you  happen  to  have 
on  when  you  heave  in  sight,"  Sam  Hardy  said  ad- 
miringly. "Ain't  it  goin'  to  be  quite  a  come-down 
to  get  into  your  old  pea-jacket  an'  sou'  wester  ?  " 

I  '11  feel  more  like  myself  then,"  Benny  said 
emphatically.  "  It  don't  seem  right  for  me  to  be 
dressed  up  so  fine,  and  most  likely  it  ain't." 

'  There  's  nothin'  too  good  for  you,  accordin'  to 
my  way  of  thinkin',  No.  8,  so  don't  get  such  queer 
ideas  into  your  head.  How  does  young  Mr.  Foster 
feel  about  it  ?  " 

Do  you  know,  I  believe  he  's  proud  of  his 
blanket  ?  I  tried  to  take  it  off  before  we  came 
down,  and  he  growled  terribly." 

"  It  '11  be  a  good  thing  for  him  when  the  weather 
is  biting  cold,  an'  you  'd  better  let  him  wear  it  a 
spell." 

Then  Benny  went  up-stairs  again  in  order  to 
change  his  clothes  once  more,  preparatory  to  assist- 
ing the  cook,  and  a  stranger  would  have  found  it 
difficult  to  decide  whether  the  boy  or  the  crew  of 
men  were  most  pleased  because  of  the  new  clothes. 

During  the  four  days  which  followed  the  arrival 
of  the  uniform,  No.  8  was  kept  busily  employed 
about  the  station,  except  during  such  times  as  he 
went  on  patrol  with  Sam  Hardy. 


246  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

Because  of  the  wreckers  in  the  vicinity,  and  the 
many  visitors  who  came  to  see  the  stranded 
steamer,  it  seemed  as  if  the  buildings  were  thronged 
with  strangers  during  the  greater  portion  of  each 
day,  and  when  the  lad  was  not  at  work  in  the 
kitchen,  he  found  quite  as  much  as  he  could  con- 
veniently do  in  "  cleaning  up  "  after  the  careless 
ones,  who  appeared  to  think  it  would  make  little 
difference  to  a  "  crew  of  men  "  if  a  greater  or  less 
amount  of  mud  or  snow  was  brought  in  on  the 
cleanly  scrubbed  floors. 

"  If  the  steamer  ain't  hauled  off  mighty  soon, 
No.  8  will  wear  himself  down  to  skin  an'  bone, 
trying  to  make  the  place  look  tidy,"  Dick  Sawyer 
said  after  a  party  of  slovenly  visitors  had  taken  their 
departure.  "  It  makes  me  tired  to  see  him  running 
around  from  mornin'  till  night  with  a  swab  in 
his  hands,  an'  ten  minutes  after  he  's  scrubbed 
every  board  clean,  a  fresh  layer  of  dirt  is  brought 
in." 

"  He  '11  get  a  rest  by  to-morrow,  I  'm  thinking," 
Joe  Gushing  replied,  "  an'  it  would  n't  surprise  me 
such  a  terrible  sight  if  all  the  wreckers'  work  was 
undone  before  twenty-four  hours  go  by." 

'  We  may  get  a  little  blow  from  the  eastward, 
but  I  ain't  countin'  on  anything  that  can  be  called 
a  storm,"  Dick  said  carelessly  as  he  followed  No.  8 
into  the  oil-room. 


LIVELY  WORK.'  247 

Before  night  had  come  there  were  many  in  and 
around  the  station  who  shared  Joe  Cushing's  opinion 
as  to  the  weather. 

Everything  about  the  wreck  was  made  as  snug  as 
possible;  extra  hawsers  were  run  out,  the  hatches 
battened  down,  and  the  lighters  anchored  in  deep 
water. 

Instead  of  lying  off  the  cove  when  the  day's  work 
was  done,  the  tugs  ran  over  to  the  city,  and  all  the 
small  boats  were  hauled  up  beyond  reach  of  the 
waves. 

Sam  Hardy  was  the  first  to  go  on  patrol  this 
night,  and,  as  a  matter  of  course,  Benny  accom- 
panied him,  for  since  the  affair  in  the  hold  of  the 
steamer  the  surfman  had  appeared  more  than  usually 
eager  for  the  companionship  of  his  young  comrade. 
'  We  're  gettin'  the  fat  of  the  work  this  night," 
Hardy  said  as  the  two  left  the  building. 

'  What  do  you  mean  by  that  ?  Ain't  we  going 
to  stay  out  the  full  four  hours  ?  " 

Indeed  we  are,  lad;  but  the  wind  won't  get  up 
much  before  midnight,  an'  when  it  does  come  I  'm 
thinkin'  it  will  bring  rain." 

'  Then  you  believe  as  Mr.  Gushing  does  ?  " 

I  'm  not  lookin',  as  Joe  is,  for  anything  very 
heavy,  but  allow  it  won't  be  pleasant  for  the  patrol 
who  comes  after  us." 

Save  that  the  wind  was  blowing  freshly,  Benny 


248  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

saw  no  indications  of  a  storm,  and  whatever  might 
have  been  the  appearance  of  the  sky,  it  would  have 
had  no  meaning  for  him  after  Sam  Hardy  delivered 
his  opinion.  , 

Their  beat  led  them  past  where  the  stranded 
steamer  lay,  now  considerably  more  than  half  un- 
loaded, and  at  this  point  a  long  halt  was  made. 

As  yet  the  surf  had  not  risen,  although  the  wind 
had  been  steadily  increasing  in  force  since  sunset, 
and  the  lighters  rose  and  fell  on  the  gentle  swell 
with  but  little  tugging  at  their  cables.  White  foam 
around  the  wreck  told  that  the  rising  tide  was  churn- 
ing against  her  sides;  but  with  no  more  force  than 
while  the  wreckers  had  been  at  work. 

To  Benny,  particularly  after  hearing  Hardy's 
opinion,  there  was  no  reason  for  the  life  savers  to 
feel  disturbed  in  mind,  and,  when  the  tour  of  duty 
having  come  to  an  end,  he  returned  to  the  station, 
it  was  with  the  belief  that  the  repose  of  the  crew 
would  be  undisturbed. 

He  was  exceedingly  tired,  as  he  had  been  every 
night  since  the  stranded  steamer  attracted  so  many 
visitors,  and  went  to  bed  immediately  after  entering 
the  building,  failing  to  observe  what  at  another 
time  might  have  drawn  his  attention — that  every 
member  of  the  crew  yet  remained  in  the  mess-room 
as  if  anticipating  a  sudden  call  to  duty. 
'  It  seemed  to  him  that  he  must  have  been  asleep 


LIVELY  WORK, 


249 


several  hours  when  Fluff's  shrill  barking  aroused 
him,  and,  sitting  bolt  upright  in  bed  he  observed, 
much  to  his  surprise,  that  none  of  the  men,  with 
the  exception  of  the  cook,  who  regularly  retired  at 
an  early  hour,  had  been  in  the  sleeping-room. 


Covering  Fluff's  mouth  to  still  his  barking,  Benny 
listened. 

It  was  evident  Joe  Gushing  had  just  come  in  from 
patrol,  and  was  making  a  report  of  rather  an  alarm- 
ing nature. 

"  In  addition  to  the  laboring  of  the  steamer,  one 
of  the  lighters  appears  to  be  dragging  anchor,  and 


250  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

if  she  sweeps  down  upon  the  stranded  craft  there  '11 
be  no  more  work  for  the  wreckers. 

Benny  was  out  of  bed  in  an  instant,  for  he  knew 
that  the  crew  would  set  about  repairing  the  mis- 
chief without  delay,  and  it  was  not  his  intention  to 
be  left  behind. 


Dressing  hurriedly,  he  descended  the  stairs  just 
as  the  men  were  putting  on  their  oiled  clothing, 
and  without  comment  he  began  following  their 
example. 

"  Hello,  No.  8,  what  are  you  about  ?  "  the  keeper 
asked. 

"  Ain't  the  crew  going  out,  sir  ?  " 


LIVELY  WORK.  2$  I 

'  Yes;  but  not  on  what  you  might  call  life-saving 
work.  It  's  only  a  'longshore  job  of  caring  for 
lighters,  with  more  hard  work  than  glory  in  it.  We 
may  be  knocking  around  from  one  of  those  tubs  to 
the  other  until  daylight,  and  it  '11  be  wiser  for  you 
to  stay  under  cover." 

Benny  immediately  removed  the  coat  he  had  put 
on ;  but  it  could  readily  be  seen  that  he  was  sorely 
disappointed  at  thus  being  advised  to  remain  in  the 
station,  for  advice  from  the  keeper  was  to  him 
nothing  less  than  a  positive  command. 

"  It  '11  grieve  him  mightily  to  be  here  while  we  're 
at  work,"  Sam  Hardy  whispered  to  Mr.  Downey, 
and  the  latter  replied : 

"  It  's  easier  for  him  to  feel  sorry  than  to  be 
knocking  around  with  us  all  night,  for  I  'm  think- 
in'  this  is  a  job  that  ain't  soon  to  be  ended." 

"  It  won't  be  as  hard  for  him  as  to  stay  here  with 
the  cook.  No.  8  ain't  a  lad  who  's  afraid  of  work, 
as  he  's  shown  us  every  day  since  he  came. " 

Tom  Downey  hesitated  a  moment,  and  then  said 
slowly,  as  does  one  who  is  not  certain  that  he  speaks 
wisely : 

"  If  you  had  rather  take  the  chances  with  us, 
when  we  're  setting  out  to  do  nothing  more  than 
get  a  lot  of  scows  into  shape,  come  along,  Benny. 
It  was  only  in  order  to  save  you  a  long  spell  of  hard 
Vork  that  I  proposed  you  should  stay  behind." 


252  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

"  If  it  don't  make  any  difference  to  you,  sir,  I  'd 
much  rather  go,"  Benny  replied  in  a  low  tone. 
"  It  would  n't  seem  that  I  really  was  No.  8  if  the 
crew  went  away  without  me." 

"  Get  into  your  oil-skins,  since  you  're  so  greedy 
for  hard  work,  lad,  an'  we  '11  start.  You  '11  see  this 
night  the  dullest  piece  of  drudgery  that  life  savers 
were  ever  put  to." 

Benny's  face  was  actually  aglow  with  pleasure 
when  this  permission  had  been  given,  and  before 
the  foremost  of  the  crew  could  leave  the  mess-room 
he  was  clad  in  his  oiled  clothing,  eager  to  share 
whatever  might  be  the  portion  of  his  comrades. 

To  the  boy's  delight,  the  life-boat  was  to  be  used 
for  the  work.  He  had  never  been  on  board  of  her, 
and  it  would  indeed  have  seemed  hard  had  this 
opportunity  been  denied  him. 

Not  until  the  buoyant  craft  had  been  pulled  out 
beyond  the  point  did  No.  8  realize  that  in  his 
weather  predictions  Sam  Hardy  had  made  a  failure. 
The  wind  was  blowing  freshly  from  the  northeast, 
the  rain  was  falling,  and  the  waves  had  risen  until 
the  heavy  boat  was  flung  about  like  a  cork. 

The  crew  plied  their  oars  in  silence;  all  evidently 
looked  upon  the  work  of  securing  the  lighters  in 
exactly  the  same  light  as  did  Tom  Downey — as 
drudgery, — and  there  was  nothing  to  animate  them. 
If  a  vessel  with  a  crew  on  board  had  been  in  dis- 


LIVELY  WORK.  253 

tress,  each  man  would  have  been  on  the  alert  and 
eager,  straining  every  muscle  without  thought  of 
fatigue,  instead  of  which  they  were  now  dis- 
pirited. 

Not  until  they  were  within  fifty  yards  of  the 
lighter  which  lay  nearest  the  point,  could  Benny 
distinguish  any  object  on  the  rolling  waters,  and 
then  he  began  to  understand  how  difficult  a  task 
had  the  crew  taken  upon  themselves. 

The  huge  fabrics,  hardly  more  than  scows,  were 
wallowing  in  the  waves,  sending  up  great  clouds  of 
spray  when  the  seas  broke  with  a  noise  like  thunder 
under  the  square  bows  or  sterns,  and  the  lad,  ignor- 
ant though  he  was  regarding  such  work,  knew  full 
well  that  it  would  be  more  difficult  to  board  one  of 
the  hulks  than  to  clamber  over  the  rail  of  an  ordinary 
wreck. 

The  order  was  given  to  "  cease  rowing,"  and  as 
the  oars  were  held  firmly  in  the  water  to  prevent 
the  life-boat  from  being  blown  at  the  mercy  of  the 
wind,  Keeper  Downey  studied  how  he  might  best 
accomplish  the  difficult  task. 

"  They  are  all  dragging  their  anchors,"  he  said 
after  a  brief  silence. 

"  Yes,  and  would  in  this  shallow  water,  no  matter 
what  weight  of  metal  they  had  out,"  Dick  Sawyer 
grumbled.  "  If  the  wreckers  are  willing  to  leave 
their  hulks  on  such  a  shore  as  this,  without  so  much 


254  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

as  a  single  man  aboard,  it  would  serve  them  right 
to  lose  the  whole  boiling." 

"  We  've  got  to  board  that  lighter!  "  Downey 
finally  exclaimed,  giving  no  heed  to  Dick's  grum- 
ling.  "  It  won't  be  a  nice  job,  boys,  but  must  be 
done,  else  those  hulks  will  be  driven  down  upon  the 
steamer.  Stand  by,  I,  2,  4,  and  5,"  he  added, 
designating  the  men  by  their  numbers. 

No  protest  was  made,  although  the  life  savers 
knew  they  were  ordered  to  far  more  dangerous  work 
than  would  be  theirs  if  human  lives  were  to  be 
wrested  from  the  waters. 

The  men  referred  to  hauled  in  their  oars,  and  the 
remainder  of  the  crew,  Benny  doing  his  best  with 
the  heavy  implement  Sam  had  been  wielding,  worked 
the  life-boat  around  until  she  was  to  leeward  of  the 
lighter. 

"  Jump  when  I  give  the  word,  and  then  slack 
away  on  the  cables.  Look  around  for  spare  anchors ! 
If  any  be  found,  heave  them  out ;  but  remember 
that  you  must  work  lively  !  Are  you  ready  ? 
jump!  " 

The  four  men  leaped  as  one,  and  the  life-boat  was 
hurled  back  by  the  impetus  until  a  dozen  yards  of 
water  tumbled  between  her  and  the  lighter. 

A  long  sigh  of  relief  escaped  from  Benny's  lips  as 
he  saw  that  his  comrades  had  gained  a  safe  footing 
on  the  rolling,  pitching  hulk,  and  then  it  was  neces- 


LIVELY  WORK.  255 

sary  that  he  give  his  undivided  attention  to  working 
the  oar,  lest  the  waves  should  wrest  it  from  his  grasp. 

Downey's  purpose  was  to  keep  the  life-boat  under 
the  lee  of  the  lighter  to  lessen  the  labor  of  his  men, 
and  even  this  was  an  extremely  difficult  matter,  for 
the  sea  increased  in  violence  momentarily,  while 
there  were  but  three  men  and  a  boy  at  the  oars. 

Hardy,  Gushing,  Sawyer,  and  Henderson  were 
the  men  detailed  for  the  work  of  securing  the  heavy 
hulk,  and  there  were  none  among  the  crew  stronger 
or  more  able  to  perform  the  task,  yet  it  was  soon 
seen  that  they  were  working  at  a  great  disadvantage 
owing  to  lack  of  numbers. 

'  There  are  no  spare  anchors  here!  "  Hardy  cried 
out  after  he  had  been  on  board  the  unwieldy  craft 
ten  minutes  or  more.  '  There  's  only  an  apology 
for  a  windlass,  an'  I  question  if  it  won't  go  by  the 
board  before  many  hours." 

"  Give  her  more  scope,  for  it  'sail  we  can  do,  and 
get  on  board  again  smartly ;  the  lighter  nearest  in- 
shore is  dragging  badly,"  Downey  shouted  in  reply. 

As  was  afterward  learned,  the  men  had  but  just 
loosened  the  carelessly  laid  turns  from  the  shaky 
windlass  when  a  huge  sea  lifted  the  stern  of  the 
lighter  high  in  the  air,  and,  passing  forward,  allowed 
the  heavy  after  part  to  drop  into  the  trough  of  the 
sea  with  a  snap  that  would  have  tested  the  timbers 
of  a  strong  vessel. 


256  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

Those  on  board  the  life-boat  heard  a  crashing  and 
rending  as  of  wood;  saw  the  huge  hulk  rise  again 
on  a  wave,  and  then  came  the  cry  from  Joe  Gushing: 
'  The  windlass  has  gone!  " 

Even  as  he  spoke  it  seemed  as  if  the  heavy  fabric, 
lifting  such  a  height  of  side  against  the  wind  that  it 
acted  as  a  sail,  literally  leaped  forward  directly  upon 
the  life-boat. 

"  Stern  all!     Lively,  boys!     Lively!  " 

Benny  laid  all  his  strength  against  the  huge  oar, 
and  yet  he  could  not  push  it  back  so  much  as  an 
inch;  but  his  efforts  might  have  been  of  some  avail 
in  connection  with  the  quick,  muscular  work  of  the 
others,  and  the  boat  was  forced  out  of  the  way  only 
so  much  as  was  absolutely  necessary.  The  failure 
of  an  inch  in  distance,  and  she  must  have  been 
crushed  by  the  ponderous  weight  which  overhung 
her  until  Benny  felt  certain  they  would  be  swamped. 

This  necessary  manoeuvre  exposed  the  life-boat  to 
the  full  force  of  the  wind,  and  before  she  could  be 
brought  round  again,  half-manned  as  she  was,  fully 
fifty  yards  of  water  separated  her  from  the  lighter 
whereon  were  the  four  life  savers  now  turned 
mariners  in  distress. 

Because  no  one  of  his  companions  spoke,  Benny 
believed  the  danger  which  menaced  his  comrades 
on  the  hulk  to  be  very  great,  and  a  sensation  of 
faintness  came  over  him  as  he  thought  that  perhaps 


LIVELY  WORK. 

he  might  never  again  clasp  the  hands  of  those  whom 
he  had  learned  to  love. 

With  a  full  crew  on  the  life-boat  it  would  have 
been  a  comparatively  easy  task  to  rescue  the  men 
from  the  lighter;  but  under  the  circumstances  it 
was  difficult  work  to  even  so  much  as  hold  her 
against  the  wind,  and  in  the  meanwhile  the  huge 
craft  was  approaching  the  breakers  at  a  speed  that 
must  soon  put  her  beyond  reach  of  help. 

Put  your  very  life  into  the  oars,  boys!  "  Dow- 
ney cried  appealingly.  '  We  must  lay  her  so  near 
alongside  that  we  can  pass  our  comrades  a  rope,  for 
we  can't  hope  to  help  them  from  the  shore!  " 

Every  one,  including  Benny,  had  been  working  to 
the  full  extent  of  his  power,  yet  it  seemed  now  as 
if  still  greater  strength  was  laid  or>  tfe*  oars.  a.« 
Downey  shouted  to  their  comrades: 

"  Stand  by  for  a  line,  boys!  Make  it  fast,  and 
come  in  on  it.  I  see  no  other  chance!  " 

"  Let  her  drift  in  on  the  shoal!  "  Hardy  cried. 

'  There  are  too  big  odds  against  all  of  us  using 

your  line,  an'  we  '11  hold  on  a  spell  after  she  strikes. 

You  four  can  manage    the   surf-boat,   an'    I   allow 

there  's  time  to  get  it." 

"  He  's  right!  "  the  keeper  exclaimed.  "  I  must 
have  lost  my  head  when  I  thought  they  could  come 
in  hand-over-hand  while  there  's  such  a  sea  on. 

Buckle  to  the  oars,  boys!     We  '11  make  the  station 
17 


2$8  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

if  we  can;  but  if  not,  beach  this  craft  as  near  as 
possible.  We  *ve  a  poor  crew  indeed,  if  our  com- 
rades are  allowed  to  drown  while  they  've  got  so 
many  timbers  under  them  !  " 

While  speaking  he  had  swung  the  boat  around 
head  on  to  the  shore,  and  every  man  tugged  and 
strained  at  his  ashen  blade,  while  Downey  lent  all 
possible  assistance  with  the  steering  oar. 

'  We  '11  never  make  the  station!  "  Benny  heard 
Robbins,  who  was  directly  in  front  of  him  mutter, 
and  almost  at  the  same  instant  the  keeper  cried 
hoarsely : 

'  We  must  take  our  chances  in  the  cove,  boys. 
No.  8,  get  hold  of  a  cork  jacket  and  come  aft 
before  we  strike!  " 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

CAST  ASHORE. 

Benny  understood  the  command  given  by  Keeper 
Downey,  but  could  not  make  up  his  mind  as  to 
how  it  might  be  obeyed.  It  seemed  to  him  in  the 
highest  degree  important  that  he  keep  to  work  with 
the  oar,  and  yet  he  could  not  lay  hold  of  a  life- 
preserver  without  dropping  it. 

After  having  thus  attended  to  the  boy's  safety  so 
far  as  was  possible,  the  keeper  turned  all  his  atten- 
tion to  the  work  of  so  steering  the  life-boat  that  she 
would  strike  the  shore  at  the  least  dangerous  point. 

The  huge  lighter,  on  which  could  be  seen  indis- 
tinctly the  forms  of  the  four  men,  was  being  driven 
rapidly  toward  the  stranded  steamer,  and  it  was  not 
necessary  one  should  have  much  experience  in  such 
matters  to  understand  that  if  she  struck  the  wreck 
there  was  little  hope  the  four  men  could  gain  the 
shore  alive. 

If  the  crew  had  been  on  the  cliff  with  the  beach- 
apparatus,  watching  others  being  swept  down  the 

259 


260  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

coast  in  such  fashion,  it  would  not  have  appeared  to 
be  a  particularly  dangerous  position,  because  a  line 
could  be  fired  across  the  wreck,  or  the  surf-boat 
pulled  to  wheresoever  the  lighter  might  come  to 
grief. 

Now,  however,  there  was  no  one  on  shore  to  lend 
assistance,  and,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  every  member 
of  the  crew  was  in  extreme  peril. 

Benny  watched  his  helpless  comrades  as  he  pulled 
at  the  oar  while  awaiting  the  opportunity  to  lay 
hold  of  a  life-preserver,  and,  observing  that  he  was 
not  yet  prepared  for  what  lay  before  them,  Robbins 
asked  sharply: 

Did  n't  you  hear  what  the  keeper  said  ?  " 

'  Yes,  sir;  but  I  can't  reach  one  of  the  jackets 
without  dropping  my  oar." 

'  Let  it  go,  then!  None  of  us  are  doing  very 
much  good  now  while  the  wind  has  such  a  firm  grip 
on  us,  and  your  strength  won't  be  missed.  This  is 
the  time  when  you  must  have  your  wits  well  about 
you,  lad,  and  it  's  no  easy  matter  to  keep  a  clear 
head  while  floundering  in  the  surf." 

"  Is  it  certain  we  '11  all  be  thrown  out  ?  "  Benny 
asked  as  he  took  up  one  of  the  jackets  and  began 
adjusting  it. 

'  There  's  no  help  for  it.  If  we  're  lucky,  it  may 
be  possible  to  get  the  surf-boat  afloat  before  that 
lumberin'  lighter  strikes;  but  I  'm  doubtful  as  to 


CAST  ASHORE.  26 1 

our  succeeding.  In  all  my  experience  on  this  coast 
I  never  before  saw  the  life  savers  so  completely 
knocked  out  as  they  appear  to  be  now." 

The  four  men  on  the  unwieldy  craft  could  be  seen 
making  such  provisions  for  their  own  safety  as  was 
possible  under  the  circumstances.  Just  abaft  of 
where  the  windlass  had  stood  was  a  narrow  hatch- 
way leading  to  the  shallow  hold,  and  around  the 
combing  of  this  they  ran  a  short  length  of  rope  to 
form  a  life-line.  It  was  a  poor  makeshift,  but  one 
on  which  might  depend  the  lives  of  four  men. 

In  a  single  hurried  glance  Benny  saw  that  Sam 
Hardy  was  stripping  off  the  greater  portion  of  his 
clothing  preparatory  to  the  battle  with  the  surf,  and 
that  the  others  were  peering  ahead  in  the  gloom  as 
if  trying  to  decide  at  which  point  the  lighter  would 
take  the  land. 

Meanwhile  the  life-boat  had  been  racing  toward 
the  shore  with  marvellous  rapidity,  flung  forward  by 
both  wind  and  wave,  and  those  on  board  had  no 
more  than  time  in  which  to  get  a  general  view  of 
the  surroundings  before  she  was  being  tossed  to  and 
fro  in  the  broken  water  which  extended  a  hundred 
yards  or  more  from  the  coast-line. 

"  Stand  ready,  boys!"  Tom  Downey  shouted, 
still  doing  his  utmost  to  guide  the  light  craft  by 
means  of  the  steering-oar.  "  Leap  clear  if  she  turns 
over!  Robbins,  have  a  care  of  Benny;  but  don't 


262  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

try  to  do  more  than  keep  his  head  above  water  till 
some  of  us  can  give  you  a  lift!  " 

'  Take  hold  of  the  back  of  my  coat,"  the  surf- 
man  said  to  the  lad  an  instant  after  these  orders  had 
been  given.  "  After  I  have  jumped,  do  your  best 
to  keep  on  my  shoulders,  and,  above  all,  don't  lose 
your  courage.  Surely  we,  whose  business  it  is  to 
save  life  in  the  surf,  should  be  able  to  go  through 
yonder  broken  water  alive." 

"  Don't  pay  any  attention  to  me,  Mr.  Robbins," 
Benny  replied,  trying  his  best,  and  almost  success- 
fully, to  speak  in  a  firm  tone.  '  You  can  save 
yourself,  and  it  ain't  fair  to  be  bothered  with  me." 

There  was  no  time  in  which  to  say  anything  more. 
Already  was  the  life-boat  rising  on  the  crest  of  a 
gigantic  wave  which  promised  to  drop  her  on  the 
shoal  twenty  yards  or  more  to  seaward  of  low-water 
mark,  and  all  knew  that  the  supreme  moment  had 
come. 

Not  until  this  instant  did  Tom  Downey  relinquish 
the  steering-oar,  and  the  others,  including  Benny, 
mentally  braced  themselves  for  the  struggle  which 
was  close  at  hand. 

Had  the  men  been  in  the  lighter  surf-boat,  the 
wave  might  have  carried  them  beyond  reach  of 
danger;  but  the  larger  craft  struck  the  bottom  some 
distance  from  the  shore,  and  it  seemed  to  Benny  as 
if  the  stern  was  flung  directly  over  the  bow. 


CAST  ASHORE.  263 

The  upheaving  of  the  boat  threw  him  far  out  over 
the  water  before  he  had  time  to  leap,  and  ere  Rob- 
bins  had  taken  hold  of  him. 

"  Don't  lose  your  courage!  " 

These  words  which  Robbins  had  spoken  were 
ringing  in  the  lad's  ears  as  he  was  plunged  head 
foremost  into  the  boiling  waters,  and  he  strove 
rather  to  keep  his  wits  about  him  than  to  strike  out 
for  the  shore. 

He  was  conscious  of  coming  in  contact  with  the 
bottom,  and  then,  as  he  rose  to  the  surface,  of  being 
drawn  back  forcibly  by  the  undertow,  after  which 
he  threw  his  arms  above  his  head  lest  he  should  be 
dashed  against  a  rock. 

It  seemed  as  if  he  was  whirled  to  and  fro  violently, 
then  flung  inshore,  only  to  be  dragged  back  again, 
and  after  that  came  a  bewildering,  sickening  sensa- 
tion, until  it  seemed  as  if  some  heavy  object  was 
pressing  directly  above  him. 

Involuntarily  he  clutched  at  it,  and  found  a  rope 
in  his  grasp. 

An  instant  of  confusion,  and  then  he  realized  that 
he  was  floating  by  the  side  of  the  life-boat. 

The  craft  had  righted  itself  after  being  up-ended, 
for,  unless  serious  damage  had  been  done  her  hull, 
she  would  always  swim  in  proper  fashion,  and  it  so 
chanced  the  waves  had  carried  her  directly  over  the 
lad  who,  by  remaining  passive  in  the  surf,  had  done 


264  THE   LIFE   SAVERS. 

exactly  that  which  was  best  calculated  to  insure  his 
safety. 

4  I  won't  lose  my  courage!  "  Benny  said  stoutly, 
and  his  own  words  served  to  animate  him. 

He  hauled  on  the  rope  until  finding  that  it  was 
made  fast  inside  the  craft,  when,  by  exerting  all  his 
strength,  it  was  possible  to  clamber  inboard,  al- 
though by  so  doing  the  boat  was  filled  to  the  gun- 
wales with  water. 

'  With  this  jacket  on,  and  in  a  life-boat,  I  can't 
sink,  and  the  only  fear  is  that  I  '11  be  thrown  against 
the  rocks,  the  same  as  a  life  saver  whom  Mr.  Hardy 
knew,"  Benny  said  to  himself. 

Then,  clutching  the  thwart,  the  lad  looked  around 
him  with  the  idea  that  he  might  be  able  to  render 
assistance  to  those  of  his  companions  who  had  not 
succeeded  in  gaining  a  place  of  safety. 

On  the  waves  near  at  hand  he  could  see  nothing; 
but  ashore  was  a  small  group  of  men  gazing  toward 
him. 

"  Stand  by  for  a  line!  "  he  heard  Mr.  Downey 
shout,  and  then  all  fear  for  himself  fled  as  he 
thought  of  those  on  the  lighter. 

"  I  am  all  right!  "  he  cried  at  the  full  strength  of 
his  lungs.  '  I  '11  hold  on  here  while  you  launch 
the  surf-boat." 

He  did  not  wait  to  hear  the  reply,  but  looked 
hurriedly  around  for  the  lighter,  and  his  breath 


CAS 7^  ASHORE.  26$ 

came  quick  and  fast  as  he  saw  the  huge  craft  almost 
upon  him. 

The  wind  was  driving  her  down  on  a  line  with  the 
stranded  steamer,  and  the  life-boat,  in  her  lee  and 
sheltered  from  the  gale,  was  being  swept  by  the 
undertow  in  the  opposite  direction. 

Now  he  understood  that  there  were  other  dangers 
than  those  of  being  dashed  against  the  rocks,  and 
for  an  instant  it  seemed  certain  the  end  had 
come. 

He  saw  a  human  figure  standing  near  the  edge  of 
the  huge  craft,  and  to  him  he  shouted  wildly: 

"  Can't  you  throw  me  a  line  ?  " 

There  was  no  time  for  a  reply.  Benny  had  hardly 
more  than  cried  out  before  the  small  boat  was  grat- 
ing against  the  side  of  the  hulk,  and  at  the  same 
instant  he  who  had  been  peering  over  the  side 
leaped  down. 

The  impetus  given  by  the  man's  body  flung  the 
life-boat  to  one  side,  and  in  the  merest  fraction  of 
time  she  was  astern  of  the  dangerous  fabric  which 
swept  onward,  leaving  a  wake  behind  like  that  of  a 
steamer. 

"  Is  it  you,  No.  8  ?  "  a  familiar  voice  cried,  and 
Benny  shouted  in  relief  and  pleasure,  for  he  knew 
Sam  Hardy  was  with  him  once  more. 

'Where   are   the  others?"   he  panted  as   Sam 
floundered  to  his  side. 


266  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

"  Still  on  board  the  lighter;  but  I  'm  not  allowin' 
there  's  any  great  danger  for  'em.  It  begins  to 
look  as  if  the  clumsy  hulk  would  clear  the  stranded 
steamer,  in  which  case  they  have  only  to  hold  on 
till  the  surf-boat  can  be  launched.  Seein*  the  life- 
boat, I  took  the  chances  of  jumpin'  so  she  would  n't 
be  swept  out  to  sea,  for  it  would  be  queer  readin' 
if  the  Superintendent  got  a  letter  telling  that  we  'd 
lost  a  craft  like  her.  How  did  you  happen  to  be 
here  alone  ?  " 

In  the  fewest  possible  words  Benny  explained 
what  had  happened,  and  asked : 

'  How  are  we  goin'  to  get  ashore,  Mr.  Hardy  ?  " 
'  That  ain't  troublin'  me  so  much  just  now  as  is 
the  question  of  how  we  're  goin'  to  keep  her  from 
bein'  driven  back  against  the  cliff.  So  far  as  I 
could  see,  all  hands  except  you,  got  ashore  without 
any  very  great  trouble,  an'  they  '11  soon  have  the 
surf-boat  over  here.  What  we  must  do  is  to  keep 
off  the  rocks,  an'  that  '11  be  a  reasonably  hard  job 
with  such  a  cargo  of  water  as  we  've  got  aboard." 

"  I  can  bail  her." 

"  As  well  try  to  dip  up  the  ocean,  for  every  wave 
is  sweepin'  over  us  here  in  this  broken  water. 
We  're  all  right  for  a  spell,  an'  there  's  nothin'  to 
prevent  our  watchin'  the  others." 

Benny  would  have  made  an  attempt  to  do  what- 
ever Sam  Hardy  might  have  suggested,  however 


CAST  ASHORE.  267 

wild  or  impossible,  and  now  did  his  best  at  peering 
through  the  gloom  toward  that  dark  mass  which  he 
knew  was  the  lighter. 

He  could  distinguish  nothing  on  the  shore;  but 
the  surfman,  having  had  more  experience,  declared 
that  he  could  see  quite  plainly  the  forms  of  their 
comrades. 

'  They  don't  dare  spend  the  time  to  go  after  the 
surf-boat,  but  will  trust  to  what  they  can  do  with 
ropes  from  the  shore.  The  wreckers  have  left 
enough  gear  behind  to  furnish  each  man  with  a 
life-line,  and  since  there  's  no  longer  any  danger  the 
lighter  will  strike  the  steamer,  it  won't  be  a  hard 
job  to  bring  every  fellow  ashore.  I  'm  still  won- 
derin'  what  made  me  jump  when  I  saw  the  boat, 
Benny.  It  was  a  fool  trick,  after  yonder  hulk  had 
taken  such  a  turn  as  showed  she  'd  strike  a  sandy 
bottom." 

"  It  was  mighty  lucky  for  me  that  you  did  come, 
sir." 

"  Why,  lad  ?  I  can't  do  the  first  thing  toward 
helpin'  us  out  of  this  plight,  except  by  usin'  the 
steerin'-oaf  when  we  're  nearer  in  shore,  an'  you 
may  as  well  have  been  alone." 

"  I  'd  have  been  terribly  frightened;  but  now 
everything  is  all  right." 

Sam  gathered  the  boy  in  his  arms  for  an  instant, 
but  made  no  reply,  and  during  those  few  seconds  it 


268  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

seemed  as  if  the  two  were  nearer  in  spirit  than  they 
had  ever  been  before. 

"  She  's  struck!  "  the  surfman  cried  at  length, 
referring  to  the  lighter,  and  Benny  saw  a  huge 
cloud  of  spray  rise  in  the  air  as  if  against  the  base 
of  a  cliff. 

'  When  we  first  went  adrift,  Joe  Gushing  figgered 
that  the  danger  of  bein'  washed  away  would  n't  be 
very  great,  provided  she  went  clear  of  the  steamer, 
for  the  deck  is  so  broad,  and  her  depth  so  great, 
that  the  waves  won't  make  a  clean  breach  over  her. 
In  their  places,  I  'd  take  the  chances  of  stayin' 
there  till  the  tide  falls,  rather  than  trust  to  a  hand- 
rope  through  the  surf." 

Sam  continued  to  gaze  first  at  the  huge  hulk  and 
then  at  the  shore,  regardless  of  his  own  danger, 
until  Benny  recalled  him  to  the  fact  that  the  life- 
boat was  being  driven  directly  toward  a  cliff  of 
brown  rocks  a  quarter  of  a  mile  beyond  where  the 
life  savers  ashore  were  stationed. 

4  Hold  on  where  you  are  till  I  give  the  word," 
Sam  cried  as  he  unshipped  one  of  the  spare  oars 
from  its  beckets  and  swung  it  out  over  the  stern. 
44  I  'm  not  certain  one  man  can  do  much  more  than 
hold  this  boat  before  the  wind,  and  if  we  find  that 
she  ain't  to  be  turned  from  her  course,  we  '11  try  the 
surf  again." 

44  Can't  I  help  you  ?" 


CAST  ASHORE.  269 

"  Not  a  bit,  lad,  except  by  sittin'  still  an'  obeyin' 
orders.  Don't  be  frightened,  for — 

There  's  nothing  to  scare  me  now  you  're 
here,"  Benny  replied  with  sublime  confidence,  and 
the  surfman  muttered  a  few  words  under  his  breath, 
the  purport  of  which  Benny  failed  to  hear. 

From  this  moment  the  two  in  the  boat  ceased  to 
pay  any  attention  to  their  comrades  either  on  shore 
or  aboard  the  lighter;  their  own  situation  demanded 
every  thought,  and  while  Sam  Hardy  would  not 
have  admitted  as  much  to  his  companion,  he  was 
seriously  concerned  regarding  the  possibility  of 
warding  off  the  threatening  danger. 

Freighted  with  water  as  the  life-boat  was,  she 
sailed  sluggishly  before  the  blast,  with  not  sufficient 
headway  to  prevent  the  waves  from  breaking  over 
her  continuously,  and  it  was  necessary  her  crew 
should  exercise  every  care  to  prevent  themselves 
from  being  washed  overboard. 

There  was  no  deviation  from  the  course,  however; 
straight  toward  that  frowning  cliff  the  wind  and 
waves  forced  her,  and  the  surfman  knew  full  well, 
although  he  refrained  from  giving  words  to  the  fact, 
that  it  was  not  in  the  power  of  man  to  aid  them  if 
they  struck  the  rocks,  where  the  waves  would  beat 
them  to  and  fro  until  life  was  crushed  out. 

We  must  take  to  the  water,  Benny,"  Sam 
Hardy  said  at  length,  doing  his  best  to  speak  in  a 


27O  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

cheery  tone.  "  It  ain't  an  overly  pleasant  idee; 
but  goes  'way  ahead  of  stayin'  aboard  till  we  can't 
help  ourselves.  Can  you  swim  any  ? " 

"  A  little  in  smooth  water." 
'  You  've  got  a  cork  jacket  on  ?  " 
'  Yes,  sir,  and  it  kept  me  up  in  great  shape  be- 
fore, so  you  need  n't  bother  about  me,  for  I  sha'n't 
drown  so  long  as  I  keep  my  courage." 

"  I  ain't  afraid  but  you  '11  contrive  to  do  that 
last.  Now  listen :  we  're  goin'  to  take  to  the  water 
mighty  soon ;  I  '11  go  over,  an'  you  're  to  follow 
close  behind.  Once  we  're  afloat,  keep  a  firm  hold 
of  my  shirt  collar  from  behind,  an'  see  to  it  your 
grip  is  not  loosened." 

"  Please  don't  try  to  drag  me,  Mr.  Hardy.  It  's 
certain  you  '11  come  out  all  right  alone,  an'  I  'm 
afraid " 

"  Benny,  I  'd  sooner  never  go  ashore  than  get 
there  without  you,"  Sam  replied,  speaking  very 
gravely;  "  so  we  won't  make  any  talk  about  that 
part  of  it.  Do  as  I  've  said,  an'  we  '11  both  be 
back  at  the  station  to-morrow  mornin',  or  neither 
of  us  shows  up  there  again.  Are  you  ready  ?  " 

"  Whenever  you  say  the  word,  sir,"  Benny  re- 
plied stoutly,  although  it  seemed  as  if  his  heart  was 
in  his  throat. 

"  I  hate  to  leave  the  life-boat,  but  the  Government 
can  easier  buy  a  new  one  tha.n  I  can  get  another 


CAST  ASHORE.  2? I 

lease  of  life,  so  here  goes.     Stand  close  by  my  side, 
No.  8,  an'  jump  with  me." 

The  boy  obeyed  promptly,  although  the  strongest 
man  might  well  have  been  excused  for  hesitating 
at  such  a  leap. 


The  water  did  not  run  in  waves  at  this  point,  but 
swirled  and  foamed  over  the  rocks  beneath  in  eddy- 
ing circles  which  threatened  to  suck  down  every- 
thing within  reach  until  it  was  like  a  seething  mass 
of  boiling  yeast. 

'  There   's   depth    enough   to   prevent   us   from 
coming  to  harm  against  the  bottom,"   Sam  said 


272  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

reassuringly,  "  and  we  've  only  to  swim  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  before  gaining  a  good  landing-place,  even 
if  Tom  Downey  don't  send  some  one  to  help  us. 
All  ready,  lad !  Keep  your  wits  about  you,  an' 
leave  the  rest  with  me. 

Then  Sam  flung  his  arm  around  the  boy's  waist, 
pressing  the  lad  close  to  him  as  he  leaped. 

Down,  down,  until  it  seemed  to  Benny  as  if  they 
would  never  reach  the  bottom,  and  then  came  the 
up-rising,  followed  by  the  blessed  relief  of  being 
able  to  breathe  once  more. 

It  had  not  been  the  lad's  purpose  to  follow  Sam 
Hardy's  instructions  to  the  letter. 

He  had  not  intended  to  allow  himself  to  be 
dragged  through  the  waves  at  risk  of  weighting 
down  his  comrade,  but  proposed  to  strike  out  for 
himself;  and  the  surfmart  must  have  feared  some 
such  intention,  for,  fastening  his  teeth  in  the  sleeve 
of  Benny's  shirt,  he  held  on  as  a  dog  might  have 
done. 

The  boy  understood  that  Hardy  could  swim  more 
easily  if  he  held  himself  up  by  clutching  the  latter's 
shirt  collar,  and  as  soon  as  he  did  this  the  surfman 
released  his  hold. 

So  low  on  the  surface  of  the  water  were  the  two, 
it  was  impossible  to  gain  any  idea  of  where  the  life 
savers  or  the  hulk  might  be. 

They   were   alone   amid    those    angry,    seething 


CAST  ASHORE. 

waters,  and  it  was  not  reasonable  to  suppose  their 
comrades  could  see  them. 

Had  he  been  dependent  upon  his  own  exertions, 
Benny  must  speedily  have  succumbed  to  the  violent 
buffeting  of  the  waves;  but  Sam  Hardy  shielded 
the  lad  whenever  it  was  possible,  in  addition  to 
dragging  him  past  the  frowning  rocks,  and  finally, 
after  it  seemed  to  the  lad  as  if  half  the  night  had 
been  spent,  they  had  arrived  at  a  cove  which  offered 
a  comparatively  safe  landing-place. 

"  Stand  up  as  soon  as  your  feet  touch  bottom, 
and  run  for  dear  life,"  Hardy  said,  speaking  for  the 
first  time  since  they  had  flung  themselves  into  the 
waves,  and  the  words  were  no  more  than  uttered 
when  Benny  was  able  to  obey. 

Hand  in  hand  the  two  fled  from  the  raging  waters, 
only  to  be  overtaken  and  hurled  back  at  the  very 
moment  when  it  seemed  as  if  a  place  of  safety  had 
been  gained,  and  then  came  another  wearying,  dis- 
heartening conflict  with  the  waves,  during  which 
Benny  nearly  lost  his  courage. 

Once  more  it  was  possible  to  gain  a  foothold ; 
once  more  they  raced  with  death,  and  this  time  the 
venture  was  successful.  The  two  gained  the  pebbly 
shore  above  the  water-line,  so  sorely  beaten  and 
fatigued  that  speech  or  movement  was  impossible 
until  after  a  rest  of  several  minutes. 

Then  Sam  asked  solicitously: 

18 


2/4  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

"  How  are  you  feelin',  lad  ?  " 

"I  'm  all  right,"  Benny  replied,  panting  so 
heavily  that  it  was  only  with  the  greatest  difficulty 
he  could  articulate. 

'  This  ain't  the  kind  of  a  night  when  a  fellow  can 
lay  along  the  shore  very  long  without  running  the 
risk  of  freezin'  to  death.  We  'd  best  be  movin'  as 
soon  as  you  can  walk." 

"  I  'm  ready  now,"  and  Benny  rose  to  his  feet. 

Throw  off  that  cork-jacket ;  take  hold  of  my 
hand,  and  once  we  've  started,  keep  movin'  as  long 
as  it  's  possible  to  breathe.  We  came  out  of  that 
smother  all  right,  an'  now  are  bound  to  get  back  to 
the  station  in  such  shape  that  we  '11  be  able  to  do 
our  full  share  of  the  work." 

'  Will  the  crew  try  to  do  anything  more,  now 
that  the  life-boat  is  gone  ?  "  Benny  asked  as  he  fol- 
lowed at  a  rapid  pace  by  Sam's  side. 

'  We  're  obliged  to  do  all  we  can  to  prevent 
wreck,  an'  a  dip  like  this  don't  excuse  us  from  a  full 
share  of  duty  when  there  's  pressin*  need." 

"  It  would  seem  different  if  there  was  any  one 
aboard  the  steamer  or  lighters." 

'  We  are  called  on  to  save  property  as  well  as 
lives,  lad,  an*  whatever  danger  we  may  have  been 
in,  or  must  face  later,  don't  count." 

There  was  no  question  in  Benny's  mind  but  that 
the  three  men  had  been  taken  safely  from  the  hulk, 


CAST  ASHORE,  2?$ 

because  Sam  Hardy  declared  they  would  be,  which 
declaration  was  the  same  to  him  as  a  fact ;  therefore 
he  felt  no  anxiety  until  they  were  within  fifty  yards 
of  where  the  lighter  lay  stranded  upon  the  sands. 

"  The  boys  are  still  there,"  the  surf  man  said  as 
he  halted  an  instant  to  peer  seaward.  "  I  reckon 
they  're  right  comfortable,  though,  for  the  surf 
does  n't  break  over  them  very  badly,  and  it  will 
soon  be  possible  to  give  them  a  line." 

'  Where  is  Mr.  Downey  and  the  others  ?  "  Benny 
asked,  gazing  around  but  without  seeing  any  sign 
of  life  upon  the  shore. 

Sam  Hardy  stopped  only  sufficiently  long  to  as- 
sure himself  they  were  not  in  the  vicinity,  and  then 
replied  in  a  tone  of  conviction : 

"  Gone  back  to  the  station  for  the  beach-wagon." 

"  Perhaps  they  never  got  ashore,"  Benny  added 
in  a  whisper  of  awe. 

"  Don't  get  such  an  idea  as  that  in  your  head, 
lad.  I  'd  answer  for  it  every  one  did  n't  go  under, 
an'  the  fact  that  there  are  none  here  is  proof  each 
man  answered  to  his  name." 

"  What  do  you  suppose  they  thought  had  become 
of  us  ?  " 

"  We  did  n't  cut  any  figger  in  their  thoughts, 
lad.  Most  likely  Downey  knew  I  jumped  aboard 
the  life-boat,  an'  after  that  he  counted  us  out  when 
reckonin'  how  many  was  in  need  of  help.  We  '11 


276  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

push  on,   for  it  '11  be  a  hard  tug  gettin'  that  cart 
over  these  rocks  with  only  half  a  crew." 

"  Are  the  other  lighters  adrift  ?  "  Benny  asked  as 
he  followed  his  comrade  at  a  smart  pace. 

"  Ay,  lad,  an'  as  near  as  I  can  make  out,  two  of 
them  are  afoul  of  the  steamer.  There  '11  be  a  pretty 
mess  there  when  the  sun  rises,  an'  we  '11  be  hauled 
over  the  coals  for  it;  but  I  '11  thank  anybody  to  tell 
me  how  we  could  have  done  more  than  we  did." 

At  that  moment  Benny  gave  little  heed  to  the 
fate  of  the  stranded  steamer;  if  the  three  men  could 
be  safely  taken  from  the  lighter  he  believed  there 
would  be  cause  for  rejoicing,  even  though  all  hulks 
alongshore  were  dashed  to  pieces. 

Before  the  two  had  traversed  more  than  a  third 
of  the  distance  from  the  scene  of  the  disaster  to  the 
station  they  came  upon  the  remnant  of  the  crew 
dragging  the  beach-apparatus. 

Benny  may  have  thought  that  the  keeper  would  at 
least  congratulate  them  upon  their  escape,  but  he  did  • 
nothing  of  the  kind.    Danger  was  too  frequent  a  visi- 
tor to  cause  much  comment,  save  at  the  very  moment 
of  its  appearance,  and  the  keeper  said  quietly,  as  if 
they  had  been  engaged  in  some  ordinary  duty : 
Got  ashore,  eh  ?     Where  's  the  life-boat  ?  " 
'  The  other  side  of  Jefford's  reef.     While  the 
wind  holds  in  this  quarter  there  's  no  fear  she  '11 
drift  far,  an'  we  can  pick  her  up  in  the  mornin'." 


CAST  ASHORE.  2/7 

Take  hold  here,  and  let  us  finish  this  job  as 
soon  as  may  be,  for  I  don't  like  the  idea  of  leaving 
the  remainder  of  the  coast  without  a  patrol  "  ;  and 
he  added  after  the  wagon  was  in  motion  once  more, 
with  Sam  and  Benny  in  the  rope  harness,  "  Did  the 
other  lighters  come  in  ?  " 

"  They  "re  grindin'  the  steamer  into  toothpicks. 
Even  if  we  had  all  hands  out  there  in  the  big  boat, 
it  would  be  impossible  to  do  anything." 

"  I  know  that,"  Downey  replied  impatiently, 
"  an'  yet  it  will  seem  to  others  as  if  we  might  have 
done  more.  A  pretty  story  we  've  got  to  tell  about 
this  night's  work!  A  crew  of  life  savers  wrecked  in 
a  life-boat !  If  we  're  not  the  sport  of  every  man  in 
the  Service  from  this  out,  I  '11  eat  my  hat!  " 

"  And  yet  there  's  no  man  livin'  who  could  have 
foreseen  what  happened.  It  was  the  proper  thing 
to  send  us  on  board  the  lighter,  an'  if  her  gear  gave 
way,  we  're  not  to  be  blamed  for  it,"  Sam  replied 
earnestly,  and  Tom  Downey  remained  silent. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

A   LETTER. 

When  the  beach-wagon  had  been  hauled  into 
position,  the  work  of  rescuing  the  life  savers  from 
the  lighter  was  trifling,  and  the  three  were  no  more 
than  ashore  before  Keeper  Downey  cried  sharply : 

"  Now  then,  let  's  get  the  apparatus  home,  and 
the  patrol  out  as  soon  as  may  be.  There  's  some 
show  of  excuse  for  our  not  being  able  to  save  the 
property  here;  but  in  case  a  vessel  came  ashore 
while  we  were  foolin'  around  with  a  lot  of  lighters, 
and  life  should  be  lost,  we  'd  find  ourselves  in  a  bad 
pickle." 

The  keeper  was  not  the  only  member  of  the  crew 
who  feared  that  the  night's  misadventure  might 
have  some  fatal  ending.  The  same  thought  was  in 
the  mind  of  every  man,  and  it  was  not  necessary  to 
urge  them  forward. 

Benny  welcomed  the  opportunity  to  restore  the 
circulation  of  blood  to  his  chilled  limbs,  and  pushed 
with  the  utmost  of  his  strength  at  the  tail  of  the 
cart  by  the  keeper's  side. 

278 


A   LETTER..  2/9 

The  heavy  wagon  was  dragged  over  the  rocks  and 
through  the  sand  at  a  rate  of  speed  which,  under 
other  circumstances,  might  have  been  impossible, 
and  when  they  had  nearly  arrived  at  the  station 
Tom  Downey  was  less  apprehensive  regarding  the 
possibility  of  a  wreck,  for  at  that  moment  they  were 
passing  over  the  highest  point  of  the  cliffs,  from 
which  a  good  view  of  the  ocean  could  be  had. 

Save  for  a  few  fleecy  clouds,  the  sky  was  clear, 
and  the  twinkling  stars  gave  out  sufficient  light 
to  show  that  not  a  sail  was  within  their  range  of 
vision. 

I  reckon  we  can  count  the  worst  of  our  work  as 
bein'  over  for  this  night;  but  there  won't  be  a  very 
pretty  picture  alongshore  to-morrow  morning,"  the 
keeper  said  to  Benny,  and  the  latter  replied  with  a 
tone  of  thankfulness  in  his  voice: 

'  Things  will  look  better  than  you  believed  at 
one  time,  Mr,  Downey,  for  then  it  seemed  as  if 
you  'd  be  called  upon  to  hunt  for  the  bodies  of  the 
crew  among  the  wreckage." 

'  Right  you  are,  my  lad,  and  it  's  little  less  than 
a  sin  to  grumble  because  two  or  three  lighters  and  a 
stranded  steamer  may  have  been  broken  up,  when 
the  crew  came  safely  through  as  tough  a  place  as 
they  were  ever  in.  It  's  a  great  pity  I  allowed  you 
to  go  with  us." 

"  But  I  've  come  out  of  it  without  any  more  harm 


280  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

than  any  of  the  others,  sir,  and  it  will  help  me  along 
in  learning  to  be  a  surfman." 

"  You  might  have  got  the  lesson  in  an  easier 
fashion,  lad.  It  's  hard  enough  for  tough  men  like 
us  to  have  the  clothing  frozen  to  our  bodies,  but  a 
boy  like  you  can't  well  stand  such  hardships." 

"  But  I  'm  all  right,  sir,"  Benny  replied,  striving 
in  vain  to  prevent  his  teeth  from  chattering  with  the 
cold.  "  Leastways,  I  will  be  as  soon  as  we  get  to 
the  station,  and  this  work  with  the  cart  warms  a 
fellow  up  wonderfully." 

Downey  did  not  reply  until  after  a  long  pause, 
and  then  he  said  emphatically : 

"  If  pluck  is  necessary  in  the  making  of  a  good 
surfman,  you  should  be  a  rare  hand  at  the  business, 
No.  8,  before  another  year  has  passed." 

What  a  welcome  it  was  which  Benny  received 
from  Fluff  when  they  finally  arrived  at  the  station 
and  the  beach-wagon  had  been  hauled  into  the  boat- 
house  ! 

The  tiny  dog  capered,  and  barked,  and  yelped 
until  it  seemed  as  if  he  realized  how  great  had  been 
the  danger  to  which  his  master  was  exposed,  and  so 
violently  loving  were  his  demonstrations  that  Benny 
could  not  make  any  headway  at  changing  his 
clothing  until  after  having  devoted  a  certain  time 
to  his  pet. 

Then  the  dog  greeted  each  of  the  men  in  turn, 


A  LETTER. 


28l 


and  Joe  Gushing  said  as  he  took  him  almost  affec- 
tionately in  his  arms: 

"  You  an'  No.  8  make  up  such  a  team,  small 
though  you  are,  as  I  never  had  the  good  fortune  to 
see  before." 


A  pot  of  steaming  coffee  was  on  the  stove,  and 
the  cook  spread  on  the  table  such  provisions  as  were 
most  conveniently  at  hand,  in  order  that  those  who 
were  forced  to  go  out  on  the  coast  again  to  do  patrol 
duty  might  refresh  themselves  without  waste  of 
time. 

Once  the  men  had  put  on  dry  clothing  it  was  as 
if  all  previous  dangers  were  forgotten,  and  Sam 


282  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

Hardy   suggested   that  they  man  the  surf-boat  in 
order  to  go  in  search  of  the  life-boat. 

"  She  '11  pound  herself  to  pieces  on  the  rocks 
'twixt  now  an*  mornin',  whereas  by  a  bit  of  hard 
work  at  this  time  we  may  save  her,  an'  in  so  doin' 
prevent  it  from  bein'  said  along  the  shore  that  we 
allowed  such  a  craft  to  be  wrecked." 

Tom  Downey  hesitated  ;  he  questioned  whether  he 
was  warranted  in  risking  human  lives  to  save  what 
might  be  replaced  by  an  expenditure  of  dollars  and 
cents,  and  perhaps  would  have  turned  a  deaf  ear  to 
Sam's  suggestion,  but  that  every  other  member  of 
the  crew  evinced  a  strong  desire  to  make  the  attempt. 

Their  record  for  saving  life  and  property  was  ex- 
ceptionally good  at  the  Department,  as  every  man 
knew  full  well,  and  to  get  such  a  black  mark  as 
must  be  set  down  against  them  in  case  the  life-boat 
should  be  lost,  was  anything  rather  than  pleasing  to 
contemplate. 

'  I  claim  that  we  are  not  warranted  in  taking  the 
chances,"  Downey  said  slowly  and  thoughtfully; 
"  but  if  you  fellows  are  so  set  on  it,  we  '11  make  the 
try." 

As  he  spoke  Benny  began  to  overhaul  the  spare 
oil-skins — the  suit  he  wore  when  they  set  out  before 
having  been  thrown  off  when  he  with  Hardy  leaped 
into  the  water — ,  and  Downey  asked  sharply : 

"  What  are  you  about,  lad  ?  " 


A   LETTER.  283 

"  There  's  another  small  coat  here  somewhere," 
and  Benny  hurriedly  tossed  over  the  assortment  of 
waterproof  garments. 

'  Well,  and  what  if  there  is  ?  " 

Did  n't  you  say  we  were  to  go  for  the  life-boat, 
sir  ?" 

The  crew  laughed  heartily,  as  if  there  was  some- 
thing exceedingly  ludicrous  in  this  question,  and 
Benny  looked  around  in  astonishment. 

Do  you  count  on  going  with  us  ?  "  Downey 
asked,  as  soon  as  he  could  control  his  mirth  suffi- 
ciently to  speak. 

"  I  thought  you  would  let  me,  sir,  seeing  as  how 
I  went  the  first  time." 

"  Because  we  were  so  foolish  as  to  take  you  then, 
there  is  no  reason  for  committing  the  same  fault 
again.  You  are  to  stay  here  with  the  cook  and 
Fluff  C.  Foster.  Once  in  a  night  is  enough  for  you 
to  risk  your  life  when  there  's  no  especial  call  for  so 
doing." 

Benny  appeared  positively  pained,  and  Sam 
Hardy  whispered  to  him  while  the  others  were 
making  their  preparations: 

It  would  n't  be  right,  lad,  for  us  to  take  you, 
even  though  it  might  be  convenient,  which  it  is  n't. 
We  're  goin'  in  the  surf-boat,  and  there  will  be  snug 
stowin'  when  the  full  crew  is  aboard.  If  it  was  a 
case  of  fair  weather  an'  smooth  water  you  'd  have 


284  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

to  stay  behind,  because  we  could  n:t  pack  you  in; 
so  look  cheerful,  an'  see  to  it  that  we  have  plenty 
of  hot  coffee  on  our  return." 

This  explanation  comforted  the  boy  greatly,  and 
he  at  once  set  about  doing  what  he  could  to  assist 
in  the  preparations  for  departure. 

Then,  after  the  boat  had  been  launched  and  the 
men  pulled  off  on  their  perilous  work,  with  Fluff  in 
his  arms  he  stood  at  the  entrance  of  the  boat-house, 
watching  until  the  tiny  craft  was  swallowed  up  in 
the  darkness,  and  when  it  was  no  longer  possible  to 
distinguish  any  object  upon  the  heaving  waters  the 
lad  returned  to  the  mess-room,  there  to  make  ready 
an  appetizing  meal  for  his  comrades. 

The  cook  had  taken  advantage  of  the  opportunity 
to  go  to  bed  immediately  the  crew  returned  with 
the  beach-wagon,  and  Benny  was  in  sole  command  of 
the  kitchen  with,  as  he  said,  "  Fluff  acting  as  mate." 

Not  until  two  hours  had  elapsed  did  the  life  savers 
return,  and  then  they  brought  the  life-boat  with 
them,  none  the  worse,  so  Dick  Sawyer  declared,  for 
the  pounding  she  had  received  upon  the  rocks. 

Benny  met  them  at  the  door  of  the  boat-house, 
and,  as  might  have  been  expected,  was  eager  to 
learn  whether  any  serious  injury  had  been  wrought. 

As  soon  as  the  two  boats  were  housed,  and  before 
they  entered  the  mess-room,  Sam  Hardy  gave  an 
account  of  the  work  by  saying: 


A   LETTER.  285 

'  We  found  her  just  inside  the  broken  water 
near  where  you  an'  I  went  overboard.  It  's 
likely  she  's  been  flung  against  the  cliff  a  good 
many  times  ;  but,  so  far  as  we  can  make  out, 
scratched  paint  is  the  only  damage  done.  It 
was  n't  a  wonderfully  easy  job  to  get  hold  of  her, 
but  once  we  were  there  for  that  purpose  you  can 
make  certain,  No.  8,  that  none  of  us  were  minded 
to  let  any  ordinary  difficulties  put  an  end  to  the 
work.  That's  all  there  is  to  the  story,  and  it  can 
be  seen  that  you  did  n't  lose  anything,  except  a 
disagreeable  time,  by  not  going  with  us." 

While  Sam  was  speaking  the  remainder  of  the 
crew  had  entered  the  mess-room,  and  an  exclama- 
tion of  pleasurable  surprise  burst  from  the  lips  of 
all  as  they  saw  the  meal  which  Benny  had  made 
ready. 

"  I  've  said  before,  an'  this  proves  it,  that  the 
time  ain't  so  far  off  when  No.  8  will  be  able  to  pass 
examination  as  our  cook,"  Joe  Gushing  exclaimed, 
and  Tom  Downey  added  gravely: 

I  hope  we  can  make  something  better  of  the  lad 
than  that.  There  's  too  much  in  Benny  for  us  to 
tie  him  down  to  such  work,  and,  unless  I  'm  greatly 
mistaken,  he  is  entitled  to  look  many  pegs  higher 
than  a  job  as  surf  man." 

Then  the  wearied  crew  sat  themselves  down  for  a 
pleasant  half-hour,  which  would  not  have  been  en- 


286        •  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

joyed  had  they  been  forced  to  depend  wholly  upon 
the  man  who  was  paid  for  preparing  their  food. 

Not  until  an  hour  past  midnight  did  Benny  go  to 
bed,  and  next  morning  he  was  down-stairs  with  the 
earliest  riser  of  the  crew. 

The  wind  had  not  spent  its  fury.  On  the  con- 
trary, it  was  blowing  a  full  gale,  bringing  with  it  a 
downpour  of  sleet  and  snow  which  would  prevent 
the  wrecking  tugs  from  returning  to  the  scene  of  the 
disaster. 

As  soon  as  breakfast  had  been  eaten  all  the  men, 
with  the  exception  of  him  whose  duty  it  was  to 
remain  on  watch,  set  out  to  ascertain  the  amount  of 
damage  done,  and,  as  a  matter  of  course,  Benny 
accompanied  them. 

Fluff  was  given  the  choice  of  going  with  his 
master  or  remaining  behind  in  the  warm  station, 
and  after  poking  his  pink  nose  out  of  doors  for  a 
single  moment,  he  quickly  retreated  to  the  kitchen, 
giving  evidence,  as  Sam  Hardy  declared,  of  "  havin* 
a  deal  of  sound  common-sense." 

The  situation  of  affairs  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  the  steamer  was  even  worse  than  had  been  an- 
ticipated. All  the  lighters  but  one  had  crashed  into 
the  stranded  craft,  making  havoc  of  the  timbers  as 
they  forced  their  heavy  bows  into  the  hull,  and 
completely  destroying  what  the  waves  had  pre- 
viously spared. 


A   LETTER.  287 

Along  the  shore  in  every  direction  were  scattered 
fragments  of  lighters  and  steamer,  until  every  cove 
which  made  in  between  the  rocks  was  piled  high 
with  these  evidences  of  devastation. 

'  We  shan't  be  troubled  much  longer  with  wreck- 
ing crews,"  Joe  Gushing  said,  when  they  had  sur- 
veyed the  entire  shore  in  the  vicinity.  "  There  's 
nothin'  to  be  done  to  the  steamer  except  freight 
away  such  parts  of  her  as  are  worth  the  savin',  and 
as  for  the  lighters,  they  will  do  no  more  service 
unless  it  be  as  kindlin'  wood." 

And  yet  all  this  might,  perhaps,  have  been 
avoided  if  the  wreckers  had  done  their  work  prop- 
erly; but  since  they  did  n't,  we  shall  be  asked  to 
explain  how  it  happens  we  allowed  so  much  property 
to  be  destroyed,"  Tom  Downey  said  with  a  sigh, 
and  Sam  Hardy  added  cheerily: 

If  all  hands  tell  the  truth,  I  'm  not  afraid  of  an 
investigation  concernin'  last  night's  work,  for  the 
crew  never  lived  that,  unaided,  could  have  pre- 
vented the  heavy  craft,  fitted  with  rotten  windlasses 
and  apologies  for  cables,  from  goin'  adrift  while  the 
wind  was  as  strong  as  when  we  came  out." 

There  was  nothing  the  men  could  do  even  toward 
saving  the  wreckage  nearest  the  shore  while  the 
storm  continued  so  violent,  and  after  an  hour  or 
more  had  been  spent  viewing  the  scene  all  hands 
returned  to  the  station. 


288  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

It  was  an  idle  day,  save  as  concerned  the  men  on 
watch,  and  after  dinner,  when  Benny  would  have 
pored  over  the  rules  regarding  drill,  Tom  Downey 
suggested  that  he  make  himself  thoroughly  familiar 
with  the  official  instructions  for  saving  drowning 
persons,  printed  for  the  benefit  of  the  life-saving 
men. 

During  two  hours  or  more  No.  8  read  and  re-read 
the  following  lines,  after  which  Sam  Hardy  ques- 
tioned him  on  the  different  points  until  it  was  proven 
to  the  satisfaction  of  all  that  the  lad  had  learned  his 
lesson  thoroughly. 

Since  it  is  to  the  advantage  of  every  boy  who 
ventures  into  the  water  for  pleasure  to  know  exactly 
what  should  be  done  when  another  is  in  danger  of 
drowning,  Benny's  afternoon  lesson  is  here  set  down 
exactly  as  he  studied  it: 

"  I.  When  you  approach  a  person  drowning  in 
the  water,  assure  him,  with  a  loud  and  firm  voice, 
that  he  is  safe. 

"  2.  Before  jumping  in  to  save  him,  divest  your- 
self as  far  and  as  quickly  as  possible,  of  all  clothes; 
tear  them  off  if  necessary,  but  if  there  is  not  time, 
loose  at  all  events  the  foot  of  your  drawers,  if  they 
are  tied,  as,  if  you  do  not  do  so,  they  fill  with  water 
and  drag  you. 

"  3.  On  swimming  to  a  person  in  the  sea,  if  he  be 
struggling,  do  not  seize  him  then,  but  keep  off  a  few 


A   LETTER.  289 

seconds  till  he  gets  quiet,  for  it  is  sheer  madness  to 
take  hold  of  a  man  when  he  is  struggling  in  the 
water,  and  if  you  do  you  run  a  great  risk. 

"  4.  Then  get  close  to  him  and  take  fast  hold  of 
the  hair  of  his  head,  turn  him  as  quickly  as  possible 
onto  his  back,  give  him  a  sudden  pull,  and  this  will 
cause  him  to  float,  then  throw  yourself  on  your  back 
also  and  swim  for  the  shore,  both  hands  having  hold 
of  his  hair,  you  on  your  back  and  he  also  on  his,  and 
of  course  his  back  to  your  stomach.  In  this  way 
you  will  get  sooner  and  safer  ashore  than  by  any 
other  means,  and  you  can  easily  thus  swim  with  two 
or  three  persons;  the  writer  has  even,  as  an  experi- 
ment, done  it  with  four,  and  gone  with  them  forty 
or  fifty  yards  in  the  sea.  One  great  advantage  of 
this  method  is  that  it  enables  you  to  keep  your 
head  up,  and  also  to  hold  the  person's  head  up  you 
are  trying  to  save.  It  is  of  primary  importance  that 
you  take  fast  hold  of  the  hair  and  throw  both  the 
person  and  yourself  on  your  backs.  After  many 
experiments,  it  is  usually  found  preferable  to  all 
other  methods.  You  can  in  this  manner  float  nearly 
as  long  as  you  please,  or  until  a  boat  or  other  help 
can  be  obtained. 

'5.  It  is  believed  there  is  no  such  thing  as  a 
death  grasp;  at  least  it  is  very  unusual  to  witness 
it.  As  soon  as  a  drowning  man  begins  to  get  feeble 
and  to  lose  his  recollection,  he  gradually  slackens 


2QO  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

his  hold  until  he  quits  it  altogether.  No  apprehen- 
sion need,  therefore,  be  felt  on  that  head  when 
attempting  to  rescue  a  drowning  person. 

"  6.  After  a  person  has  sunk  to  the  bottom,  if  the 
water  be  smooth,  the  exact  position  where  the  body 
lies  may  be  known  by  the  air-bubbles,  which  will 
occasionally  rise  to  the  surface,  allowance  being  of 
course  made  for  the  motion  of  the  water,  if  in  a 
tide-way  or  stream,  which  will  have  carried  the 
bubbles  out  of  a  perpendicular  course  in  rising  to 
the  surface.  A  body  may  be  often  regained  from 
the  bottom,  before  too  late  for  recovery,  by  diving 
for  it  in  the  direction  indicated  by  these  bubbles. 

"  7.  On  rescuing  a  person  by  diving  to  the  bot- 
tom, the  hair  of  the  head  should  be  seized  by  one 
hand  only,  and  the  other  used  in  conjunction  with 
the  feet,  in  raising  yourself  and  the  drowning  person 
to  the  surface. 

"8.  If  in  the  sea,  it  may  sometimes  be  a  great 
error  to  try  to  get  to  land.  If  there  be  a  strong 
'  outsetting  '  tide,  and  you  are  swimming  either  by 
yourself,  or  have  hold  of  a  person  who  cannot 
swim,  then  get  on  your  back  and  float  till  help 
comes.  Many  a  man  exhausts  himself  by  stem- 
ming the  billows  for  the  shore  on  a  back-going  tide, 
and  sinks  in  the  effort,  when,  if  he  had  floated,  a 
boat  or  other  aid  might  have  been  obtained. 

"  9.  These  instructions  apply  alike  to  all  circum- 


A   LETTER.  29! 

stances,    whether  as    regards   the   roughest  sea  or 
smooth  water." 

When  night  came  it  was  what  sailors  call  a 
"  dirty  "  one,  and  Sam  Hardy  announced  that 
Benny  would  not  be  allowed  to  go  on  patrol. 

You  know  we  made  the  agreement,  lad,  that 
you  might  share  my  watch  with  me  except  when 
the  weather  was  too  bad,  and  that  's  what  I  allow  it 
to  be  now.  There  's  no  good  reason  why  a  boy  of 
your  years  an*  size  should  tramp  up  an'  down  this 
coast  for  four  hours  when  nothin'  more  is  to  come 
of  it  than  the  toughenin'  of  him.  Stay  undercover 
with  Fluff,  an'  if  it  be  so  we  're  called  on  for  work, 
you  shall  take  your  proper  station  as  No.  8  of  this 
'ere  crew." 

Benny  did  his  best,  and  succeeded  fairly  well,  in 
keeping  from  his  face  the  disappointment  which 
came  over  him  at  thus  being,  for  the  first  time,  de- 
prived of  the  opportunity  to  share  in  his  comrade's 
tasks. 

He  went  to  bed  while  Sam  was  yet  on  patrol,  and 
nothing  disturbed  his  slumbers  until  next  morning 
when  the  cook  set  about  preparing  breakfast. 

The  report  from  those  who  had  been  on  duty  was 
to  the  effect  that  no  vessels  had  been  sighted  during 
the  night,  and  that  the  stranded  steamer  had  been 
breaking  up  rapidly  during  the  past  twelve  hours. 

The  sky  was  yet  cloudy,  but  the  snow  and  sleet 


THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

had  ceased  to  fall,  and  the  wind  showed  signs  of 
abating. 

Before  breakfast  was  ready  the  wrecking  tugs 
appeared  off  shore,  and  two  hours  later  some  of  their 
crews  visited  the  station. 

Keeper  Downey  wrote  out  his  report,  and  when 
that  was'done  the  work  of  the  life  savers,  so  far  as 
the  steamer  and  lighters  were  concerned,  had  come 
to  an  end,  except  as  it  might  be  possible  later  to 
pick  up  such  wreckage  as  should  drift  ashore. 

Then  the  crew  settled  down  to  the  dull  routine  of 
pleasant-weather  work,  occupying  the  greater  por- 
tion of  the  time  in  drilling  and  patrolling  the  coast. 

Benny  could  give  a  very  good  synopsis  of,  and  in 
many  cases  repeat  verbatim,  every  chapter  in  the 
Revised  Regulations.  Each  of  the  crew  in  turn 
had  taught  Fluff  C.  Foster  a  new  trick,  until  his 
head  was  so  stored  with  knowledge  of  this  kind  that 
a  full  hour  was  required  in  which  to  display  all  his 
accomplishments,  and  Joe  Gushing  had  begun  to 
lay  his  plans  for  the  day  when  he  and  No.  8  were 
to  visit  the  city  clad  in  full  uniform. 

Then  came  a  letter  which  disturbed  all  this  se- 
renity, and  plunged  the  inmates  of  the  station  into 
a  most  painful  state  of  perplexity  and  apprehension. 

An  ordinary-looking  envelope  covered  the  miss- 
ive, such  an  one  as  might  have  brought  an  account  of 
the  simplest  business  transaction,  and  yet  it  threat- 


A   LETTEK. 


293 


ened  to  change  the  whole  course  of  affairs  for  this 
particular  life-saving  crew. 

It  was  addressed  simply  to  the  keeper  of  the 
station,  and  bore  the  post-mark  of  a  town  in  the  in- 
terior of  New  York  State. 


Torn  Downey  opened  it  carelessly,  read  the  lines 
hurriedly  at  first,  and  then  more  slowly,  as  if  he 
found  it  difficult  to  understand  the  meaning. 

He  sat  with  his  gaze  fixed  upon  the  page  so  long 
that  Sam  Hardy,  who  had  been  questioning  Benny 
regarding  the  proper  method  of  landing  in  a  small 
boat  through  the  surf,  asked  curiously: 


294  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

'  What  's  gone  wrong  ?  You  look  as  if  there 
was  bad  news  in  that  letter." 

"  And  at  first  glance  it  strikes  me  it  is  bad  news," 
the  keeper  replied.  '  I  was  tryin'  to  make  up  my 
mind  whether  it  would  be  well  to  let  all  hands  know 
what  may  come  to  us,  or  if  anything  would  be 
gained  by  keepin'  it  a  secret  for  a  spell." 

"  If  it 's  bad  news,  the  sooner  we  know  it  the  better, 
accordin'  to  my  way  of  .thinkin',"  Joe  Gushing  said 
promptly ;  and  this  remark  decided  Tom  Downey,  for 
without  further  hesitation  he  read  the  following  aloud: 
"  '  MY  DEAR  SIR: 

"  '  I  see  by  the  newspapers  that  the  ship  Amazonia 
was  wrecked  near  your  station,  and  the  sole  survivor 
was  a  boy  ten  or  twelve  years  of  age,  who  gave  his 
name  as  Benjamin  H.  Foster,  stating  that  his  father 
and  mother  had  died  in  Calcutta. 

'  I  have  every  reason  to  believe  that  boy  to  be 
my  brother's  son,  in  which  case  it  shall  be  my  duty 
to  care  for  him. 

"  '  Will  you  kindly  ask  him  his  father's  name  ? 
If  it  should  have  been  "  Stephen  G.,"  then  you 
may  draw  on  me  for  sufficient  money  to  pay  young 
Benny's  passage  to  this  place,  and  for  so  much  addi- 
tional as  he  may  be  indebted  to  you  for  board  and 
other  necessaries  of  life. 

'  Very  respectfully  yours, 

"  'ANDREW  FOSTER.  '  " 


A   LEISTER.  295 

For  fully  a  moment  after  Mr.  Downey  ceased  read- 
ing no  one  spoke,  and  the  silence  was  so  profound 
that  Fluff  looked  anxiously  from  one  to  the  other 
as  if  fearing  some  disaster  had  befallen  the  crew. 

Then  it  was  Sam  Hardy  who  spoke,  and  he  found 
it  necessary  to  clear  his  throat  several  times  before 
it  was  possible  to  control  his  voice. 

'  What  was  your  father's  name,  Benny  ?  " 

"  It  was  Stephen  G.,  but  I  don't  believe  the  man 
who  wrote  that  letter  is  my  uncle,  because  if  he  is, 
why  did  n't  I  know  something  about  him  ?  Or, 
when  father  and  mother  were  so  sick,  why  did  n't 
he  write  to  them  ?  " 

Of  course  that  *s  a  question  we  can't  answer, 
lad.  It  may  be  your  folks  did  n't  send  him  word, 
or,  perhaps  the  letters  went  astray.  There  are  a 
dozen  good  reasons  which  might  be  found,  and  it 
ain't  likely  he  'd  be  claimin'  a  boy  he  never  saw  if 
there  was  n't  any  relationship  between  'em." 

"  I  hung  'round  Calcutta  long  enough  for  him  to 
claim  me  if  he  'd  wanted  to,  an'  surely  he  must  have 
known  father  was  dead,  'cause  I  've  heard  mother 
say  it  was  reported  among  the  shippin'  news  in  all 
the  American  papers." 

'  You  don't  seem  to  be  very  much  pleased  at  the 
idea  of  havin'  an  uncle  up  in  'York  State  ?  "  Sam 
Hardy  said,  speaking  a  trifle  more  cheerfully  than 
before,  and  Benny  cried  excitedly: 


296  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

"Pleased!  Of  course  I  ain't !  He  can't  be  much 
of  an  uncle,  else  he  would  have  helped  father  an' 
mother  along  when  they  needed  it.  He  can  write 
a  dozen  letters  before  I  '11  go  anywhere  to  live  off 
of  people  that  ain't  wantin'  me  very  bad,  else  I  'd 
have  heard  from  'em  long  ago." 

'  This  ain't  a  matter  to  be  settled  off-hand, 
Benny,"  Keeper  Downey  said  gravely.  "  If  the 
man  who  wrote  this  letter  is  your  uncle,  and  it 
seems  he  is,  I  'm  not  certain  but  that  he  could  force 
you  by  law  to  go  with  him.  At  all  events,  it  's  his 
duty  to  give  you  some  help  in  the  world,  and  we 
must  look  at  the  matter  from  all  sides  before 
deciding." 

"  If  you  'd  rather  I  would  n't  stay  here,  Mr. 
Downey,  Fluff  an'  me  will  go  off  somewhere  else; 
but  we  won't  take  up  with  his  offer." 

"  Now  look  here,  Benny,"  and  Sam  Hardy, 
reaching  over,  took  the  boy  by  the  hand.  '  There's 
no  question  about  our  wantin'  you  to  stay  here,  for 
we  've  come  to  look  on  you  as  belongin'  to  us,  an' 
I  '11  venture  to  say  I  'm  speakin'  now  what  's  in  the 
heart  of  every  man  here.  We  like  you  because 
you  're  a  sensible  mate,  an  industrious  lad,  an' 
one  's  who  's  doin'  his  level  best  to  get  into  a  hard 
callin'.  If  we  thought  only  of  ourselves  that  letter 
would  go  into  the  fire  before  you  could  say  '  Jack 
Robinson.'  It  's  your  future  that  must  be  con- 


A  LETTER.  297 

sidered.  By  stayin'  here  you  '11  never  be  more  'n  a 
surfman,  an'  a  lad  of  your  age  should  aim  higher 
than  that,  whether  he  reaches  the  mark  set  or  not. 
I  ain't  lookin'  down  upo'j  the  business  I  've  fol- 
lowed all  my  life,  an'  I  '11  always  uphold  that  it  's 
an  honor  to  any  man  to  be  a  member  of  a  life-saving 
crew;  but  at  the  same  time  I  know,  an'  you  know, 
that  it  's  possible  for  a  lad  to  go  a  good  bit  higher. 
What  's  decided  on  now  affects  your  whole  life,  an' 
settles  whether  you  're  to  stay  in  the  life-saving 
service,  or,  perhaps,  be  a  shinin'  light  in  the  world. 
I  vote  that  all  hands  of  us  study  over  this  thing  till 
to-morrow  after  breakfast,  and  then  let  each  one, 
includin'  Benny,  give  the  result  of  his  figgerin.'  ' 

'  That  's  the  proper  way,"  Tom  Downey  said 
quickly,  catching  eagerly  at  the  suggestion.  You  '11 
remember  all  Sam  Hardy  has  said,  Benny,  for  it  's 
true,  so  far  as  regards  yourself  an'  us.  We  want 
you  with  us  ;  but  I  hope  there  's  nobody  in  this 
crew  who  would  be  willing  to  keep  you  at  the  ex- 
pense of  your  future.  Think  it  all  over  calmly  and 
quietly,  lad,  as  Sam  proposes,  an'  you  can  count  on 
this  crew  doin'  their  level  best  for  whatever  may  be 
to  your  future  good." 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

A   CONSULTATION. 

Benny  was  in  a  state  of  mind  bordering  on  de- 
spair when  the  crew  postponed  any  decided  action 
on  the  letter  from  this  uncle  of  whom  he  had  never 
heard  before.  For  the  moment  it  seemed  as  if 
almost  any  decision  would  have  been  better  than 
the  suspense. 

It  appeared  as  if  his  comrades  avoided  even  so 
much  as  looking  toward  him,  and  this  gave  him  a 
sense  of  loneliness  such  as  had  come  into  his  heart 
when  he  found  himself  amid  strangers,  the  only  sur- 
vivor of  the  Amazonia. 

As  a  matter  of  fact  there  was  not  a  member  of 
the  crew  but  that  would  have  enjoyed  taking  the 
lad  in  his  arms  and  declaring  that  he  should  never 
leave  the  station,  no  matter  how  many  uncles  might 
send  for  him ;  but  every  man  understood  the  ques- 
tion was  too  important  to  be  decided  hastily,  and 
also  that  it  would  be  cruel,  perhaps,  to  speak  such 
words  as  might  influence  the  boy. 

Benny  waited  a  moment  or  more,  hoping  Sam 
298 


A    CONSULTATION.  299 

Hardy  might  give  him  some  consolation  ;  but  as  the 
surfman  remained  silent  with  averted  face,  the  sore- 
hearted  lad,  gathering  Fluff  in  his  arms,  went  out 
upon  the  wind-swept  rocks  to  struggle  as  best  he 
might  with  the  great  grief  which  had  so  suddenly 
come  upon  him. 

Seating  himself  within  view  of  the  reef  upon 
which  the  Amazonia  had  gone  to  pieces,  and  cover- 
ing Fluff  with  his  coat  as  best  he  might,  the  lad 
gave  himself  up  to  reflection — not  as  to  what  was 
best  for  him  to  do  regarding  the  matter  of  going  to 
his  uncle;  but  concerning  the  cruel  tricks  which 
fortune  seemed  to  be  playing  him. 

"  I  know  neither  mother  nor  Mrs.  Clark  would 
want  us  to  go  off  to  that  old  man  who  never  cared 
for  us  a  cent's  worth  till  he  saw  the  news  of  the 
shipwreck  in  the  papers,  and  it  's  horrible  for  him 
to  interfere  just  when  we  'd  got  into  such  a  nice 
place!  " 

The  dog  licked  his  master's  face,  and  interpreting 
this  as  meaning  Fluff  fully  agreed  with  him,  Benny 
continued  mournfully: 

"  We  won't  go,  Fluffy,  and  that  's  all  there  is  to 
it.  If  the  crew  say  we  can't  stay  here  because  that 
man  claims  the  right  to  order  us  'round,  we  '11  run 
off  somewhere  by  our  own  two  selves,  an'  see  if  it 
won't  be  possible  to  make  another  home.  But 
we  '11  never  find  such  a  pleasant  place  as  this,  no 


3OO  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

matter  how  much  good  luck  we  have!  It  seemed 
as  if  the  men  liked  us,  an'  after  there  'd  been  time 
to  grow,  we  'd  come  out  as  regular  surfmen." 

The  dog  whined  because  he  was  cold,  but  Benny 
fully  believed  it  to  be  in  reply. 

"  Of  course  you  're  sorry,  Fluff!  Anybody  'd 
be;  an'  what  is  to  become  of  us  ?  You  've  got  a 
collar  and  a  medal,  and  there  's  my  two  suits  of 
clothes;  but  we  '11  need  some  place  to  sleep  in  the 
very  first  night  of  leaving  here,  and  where  '11  we 
find  it  ?  The  money  the  passengers  gave  us  is  in 
the  bank,  and  I  suppose  Andrew  Foster  will  think 
it  belongs  to  him,  so  we  can't  count  on  that." 

Fluff  twisted  and  squirmed  until  he  escaped  from 
his  master's  arms,  for  the  embrace  was  much  too 
close  to  please  him,  and  as  he  capered  and  danced, 
begging  to  be  taken  back  to  the  station  Benny's 
grief  increased : 

I  know  you  want  to  stay  here,  Fluffy;  but  how 
can  I  fix  things  ?  It  's  going  to  be  terrible  hard  on 
you  to  go  where  folks  won't  want  you  in  the  house 
'cause  you  're  a  dog,  an'  we  can't  be  together 
much  of  the  time.  Oh,  what  shall  we  do,  you  poor 
little -man!  " 

Believing  himself  hidden  from  view  of  the  life 
savers,  the  lad  gave  way  to  the  grief  in  his  heart, 
and,  lying  face  downward  upon  the  rocks,  he  allowed 
the  tears  to  flow  unchecked. 


A    CONSULTATION.  301 

It  was  Sam  Hardy  who,  missing  Benny  from  the 
station,  had  come  out  fearing  to  find  him  in  much 
such  a  frame  of  mind. 

During  two  or  three  minutes  the  kindly-hearted 
surfman  stood  over  him  in  silence,  while  Fluff  re- 
mained near  by  wagging  his  tail  as  if  asking  what 
had  gone  wrong  so  suddenly,  and  then,  bending 
over,  Sam  Hardy  lifted  the  sorrowing  boy  in  his 
arms. 

"  Look  you,  lad,  it  's  wrong  to  get  all  down  to 
the  heel  in  this  fashion  when  a  question  comes  up 
which  is  to  be  settled  as  nearly  for  your  good  as  we 
can  figger  it  out.  A  life-savin'  station  ain't  the 
kind  of  a  home  which  is  needed  by  a  boy  of  your 
age." 

"It  's  the  only  kind  I  want!  "  Benny  sobbed. 
'  Fluffy  an'  I  '11  never  find  another  so  good!  " 
'  That  's  what  you  believe  now,  No.  8;  but " 

"  Why  do  you  call  me  No.  8  ?  If  I  'm  to  be  sent 
away  from  here  it  shows  I  never  was  one  of  the 
crew !  ' ' 

But  you  have  been,  an*  always  will  be,  Benny, 
lad.  Even  if  you  go  away  we  shall  never  speak  or 
think  of  you  except  as  '  No.  8,'  the  gritty  little 
mate  who  brought  something  like  sunshine  into  the 
dull  station,  and  kept  the  gleam  there  every  minute 
he  stayed  with  us." 

"  Don't  talk  like  that,  Mr.  Hardy,  please  don't 


302  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

talk  like  that!  When  you  say  you  're  sorry,  and 
yet  keep  on  talking  as  if  it  was  settled  that  I  'd  got 
to  go,  it  breaks  me  all  up!  " 

"  Poor  little  chicken,  it  strikes  me  you  're  badly 
broken  up  already!  "  And  Sam  stroked  the  boy's 
hair  with  his  huge,  rough  hand,  while  Fluff  crept 
under  the  life  saver's  arm  as  if  asking  that  he  be 
given  due  share  of  the  caresses.  :<  If  we  of  the 
crew  did  only  that  which  pleased  us  best,  you  'd 
never  have  a  show  for  leavin' ;  but,  as  Tom  Downey 
says,  we  're  bound  to  think  only  of  what  may  be  for 
your  good,  an'  in  making  up  our  minds  it  is  with 
the  hope  we  '11  go  right  for  your  sake." 

'  That  man,  Andrew  Foster,  don't  care  about 
Fluffy  an'  me,  'cause  he  never  so  much  as  saw 
us!" 

'  That  same  thought  has  been  in  my  mind, 
Benny,  lad,  an'  Joe  Gushing  has  been  makin' 
similar  talk.  If  we  were  certain  he  'd  care  for  you 
as  we  do,  the  matter  would  be  settled,  for  it  stands 
to  reason  you  should  have  a  different  home  than 
this.  But  I  don't  like  the  way  his  letter  reads,  nor 
do  the  rest  of  the  boys ;  so  you  see,  lad,  the  ques- 
tion ain't  settled  by  a  long  chalk  yet." 

"  Please  try  to  make  the  men  want  to  keep  me! 
Please  try,  Mr.  Hardy." 

"  Bless  your  heart,  No.  8,  there  's  no  need  of  my 
tryin'  to  do  anything  of  the  kind.  The  only  trouble 


A    CONSULTATION',  303 

is  we  're  so  eager  for  you  to  stay  that  we  're  afraid 
of  ourselves — afraid  we  sha'n't  be  actin*  square  by 
you.  Here  's  Tom  Downey  been  sayin'  that  he  'd 
be  willin'  to  give  up  ten  dollars  a  month  out  of  his 
pay  for  so  long  a  time  as  he  is  in  the  service,  for  the 
sake  of  havin'  you  'round,  an'  Dick  Sawyer  is 
threatenin'  all  sorts  of  terrible  things  against  your 
uncle  because  he  wrote  the  letter.  We  want  you, 
lad,  as  badly  as  you  want  to  be  with  us,  an'  that  's 
what  's  makin'  it  so  hard  to  settle  the  matter." 

Benny  twined  his  arms  around  the  surfman's 
neck,  and  the  latter,  lifting  him  as  tenderly  as  he 
would  an  infant,  carried  him  back  to  the  station, 
Fluff  following  close  at  his  heels,  barking  with  de- 
light because  they  had  finally  decided  to  go  in  out 
of  the  cold  wind. 

Now  it  was  that  Benny's  grief  became  more  in- 
tense; this  time  because  of  the  unusual  tenderness 
and  attention  shown  by  every  member  of  the  crew. 
Each  man  appeared  as  if  striving  to  show  the  boy 
some  particular  attention  as  proof  of  the  esteem  in 
which  he  was  held,  and  try  as  he  might,  No.  8 
could  not  hold  back  the  tears  of  mingled  pleasure 
and  sorrow. 

During  the  remainder  of  the  day  each  member  of 
the  crew  went  around  softly,  hardly  speaking  above 
a  whisper,  as  one  does  when  in  the  presence  of  some 
great  affliction,  and  the  cook  positively  forbade 


304 


THE  LIFE   SA  VERB. 


Benny's  going  into  the  kitchen  for  the  purpose  of 
assisting  in  the  work. 

"  It  seems  as  if  I  was  going  right  off  in  the  morn- 
ing," No.   8  said  confidently  to  Sam  Hardy,  his 
voice  breaking  now  and  then  because  of  the  sobs. 
But  suppose  it  is  decided  that  I  must  leave,  will  I 
have  to  start  right  off  ?  " 

'  Why,  bless  you,  lad,  there  'd  be  no  call  for 
anything  like  that.  Writing  to  your  uncle  an' 
getting  an  answer  back  will  take  a  week  at  the  best, 
and  then  we  shall  try  to  —  Well,  there,  No.  8, 
what  's  the  sense  of  our  talkin'  about  your  goin" 
away  ?  When  it  comes  right  down  to  the  fact,  I 
ain't  sure  as  I  could  say  that  you  'd  best  go  to  this 
Andrew  Foster,  even  though  I  might  know  it  was 

for  your  good.  Let  's  put 
master  Fluff  through  his 
lessons,  and  see  if  we  can't 
work  something  like  cheer- 
fulness into  this  crew,  for 
it 's  gettin'  to  be  as  solemn 
a  time  as  I  ever  took  part 
in." 

Fluff  was  ready  and  even 
eager  to  do  what  he  might 
to  dispel  the  gloom,  al- 
though it  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  he  had  such 
an  idea  in  his  white  head  when  he  obeyed  the 


A    CONSULTATION.  305 

surfman's  command  to  "  sit  up  and  smoke  his 
pipe." 

During  the  evening  the  men,  and  with  them 
Benny,  grew  more  cheerful.  Now  and  then  one 
would  speak  of  what  No.  8  must  do  as  soon  as  the 
warm  weather  came,  as  if  the  matter  was  already 
settled  that  the  lad  should  remain.. 

The  cook  exerted  himself  to  prepare  a  most  ap- 
petizing supper,  and  it  was  served  half  an  hour 
earlier  than  usual  so  that  all  hands,  save  the  look- 
out on  the  hill,  might  be  present.  The  men  told 
stories  and  made  jokes  during  the  meal  as  if  the 
sole  object  was  to  prevent  their  own  and  No.  8's 
thoughts  from  roaming  into  the  future. 

Yet  after  all  these  efforts  it  was  impossible  to  im- 
part a  thorough  air  of  gayety  to  the  scene,  and  it 
was  with  something  like  a  sense  of  relief  that  the 
crew  heard  the  hoof-beats  of  a  horse  over  the  stone 
road,  telling  that  a  visitor  was  near  at  hand. 

Dick  Sawyer  opened  the  door  to  welcome  this  op- 
portune arrival,  and  as  he  peered  out  into  the  twilight 
an  exclamation  of  glad  surprise  burst  from  his  lips. 

"  Why,  it  's  Mr.  Bradford!  Most  likely  he  's 
come  to  see  how  the  new  uniform  fits,  an'  accordin' 
to  my  way  of  thinkin',  he  could  n't  have  appeared 
in  a  better  time,  for  now  we  '11  be  able  to  get  a  bit 
of  advice  on  a  difficult  question  from  one  who  is 
interested  in  the  case." 


306  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

The  gentleman  whose  coming  was  thus  announced 
must  have  been  surprised  by  the  warmth  with  which 
he  was  received.  The  members  of  the  crew  greeted 
him  as  an  old  friend,  and  each  appeared  eager  to 
engage  him  in  conversation. 

Benny,  holding  Fluff  in  his  arms,  stood  in  the 
background,  waiting  until  his  comrades  had  come  to 
an  end  of  their  words  of  welcome,  and,  catching  a 
glimpse  of  him,  Mr.  Bradford  made  his  way  toward 
that  portion  of  the  room,  in  total  disregard  of  the 
fact  that  Dick  Sawyer  was  doing  his  best  to  explain 
how  an  unusually  large  bag  of  ducks  might  be 
taken  in  a  certain  cove  not  far  from  the  building. 

'  Why,  my  boy,  you  're  lookin'  as  solemn  as  an 
owl,  and  even  young  Mr.  Fluff  is  n't  as  cheerful 
as  when  I  saw  him  last!  What  's  the  matter? 
Did  n't  the  uniform  fit  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  sir,  and  it  's  beautiful — beautiful;  and 
I  sha'n't  be  able  to  wear  it  because  I  've  got  to  go 
away. 

Then  a  particularly  big  sob  came  into  Benny's 
throat,  and  he  found  it  impossible  to  speak 
further. 

"  Go  away  ?  "  Mr.  Bradford  repeated  in  surprise, 
and  turning  to  the  others  he  asked,  "  What  does 
the  lad  mean  ?  " 

It  was  proper  Tom  Downey  should  act  as  spokes- 
man, and,  recognizing  this  fact,  he  began  the 


A    CONSULTATION.  307 

necessary  explanations  by  handing  the  visitor  the 
letter  which  had  caused  so  much  sorrow  at  the 
station. 

Take  off  your  overcoat,  and  make  yourself 
comfortable  here  by  the  table  while  you  read  this; 
then  you  '11  know  what  Benny  means.  But  he  goes 
a  little  too  far  when  he  says  he  's  got  to  leave,  for 
we  haven't  settled  the  question  yet,  and  since 
you  're  here,  if  the  rest  of  the  crew  are  willing,  I  go 
in  for  leavin'  it  to  you.  We  want  him  to  stay; 
yet  are  afraid  of  doin*  what  might  n't  be  to  his  best 
interests,  therefore  it  puts  us  in  a  bad  fix,  so  far  as 
makin'  up  our  minds  is  concerned." 

Mr.  Bradford  looked  thoroughly  mystified,  as  he 
had  good  cause  for  being,  but  he  did  as  the  speaker 
had  suggested,  in  the  way  of  making  himself  com- 
fortable, and  then  read  the  letter  from  Mr.  Andrew 
Foster,  studying  it  so  long  that  Benny  began  to 
fear  perhaps  he  did  not  wish  to  venture  an  opinion 
on  the  subject. 

Meanwhile  the  life  savers  seated  themselves 
around  him,  each  man  looking  inquiringly,  eagerly, 
at  the  one  whom  they  had  thus  suddenly  decided 
should  be  the  judge. 

Finally  Mr.  Bradford  looked  up  from  the  paper 
toward  Benny  and  asked  : 

"  When  did  you  hear  from  your  uncle — before 
this,  I  mean  ?  " 


308  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

"  I  never  knew  there  was  such  a  man,  and  wish 
he  'd  kept  his  letters  to  himself." 

"  Was  your  mother  sick  long  before  she  died  ?  " 

"  Only  two  weeks,  sir." 

"  And  did  n't  she  mention  the  name  of  Andrew 
Foster — never  speak  of  your  Uncle  Andrew  ?  " 

"  I  don't  think  so,  sir;  I  am  sure  she  never  said 
very  much  about  him,  and  I  can't  remember  ever 
having  heard  his  name." 

"  Not  a  very  affectionate  letter,  eh,  Downey  ?  " 
and  Mr.  Bradford  held  out  the  missive  as  if  thinking 
the  keeper  might  like  to  see  it  again  before  replying. 

"  That  's  the  way  it  struck  all  hands  of  us,  and  is 
one  thing  which  has  caused  us  to  think  perhaps  it 
would  be  as  well  for  Benny  to  stay  here." 

*"  You  want  to  keep  him  ?  " 

'  Yes,  Mr.  Bradford ;  we  would  like  to  have  him 
and  Fluff  stay,  if  it  so  be  the  lad  would  n't  be  in- 
jurin'  his  prospects  in  life.  We  've  come  to  look 
upon  him  as  belongin'  to  us  in  a  sort  of  way.  Per- 
haps you  can't  understand  it;  but  we  who  live  here 
alone,  tied  down  to  the  station  day  and  night,  get 
kind  of  peculiar,  I  reckon.  You  see,  we  're  mostly 
by  ourselves  all  winter,  and  run  into  whims  an' 
fancies  more  than  other  men.  The  sea  brought  the 
boy  to  us,  so  to  speak,  and,  even  though  he  's  where 
he  can  hear  it,  I  must  say  a  better  lad  never  lived — 
leastways,  so  far  as  my  experience  goes.  Here  's 


A    CONSULTATION.  309 

the  whole  hitch :  we  can't  hope  to  make  more  than 
a  surfman  out  of  him,  and  it  may  be  the  good  Lord 
has  fitted  him  for  something  better,  though  he 
could  n't  follow  a  more  honest  callin'.  Now  if  this 
uncle  of  his  would  send  him  to  college,  and  start 
him  out  into  the  world  as  many  a  boy  is  started, 
we  'd  put  aside  our  own  feelin's,  knowin'  No.  8  was 
to  be  benefited;  but  if  he  's  goin'  'way  up  there 
in  the  middle  of  York  State  to  do  the  drudgery 
of  a  farm,  or  some  such  kind  of  work,  why,  then, 
unless  it  's  contrary  to  law,  we  'd  hold  him  here  in 
spite  of  his  uncle." 

"  Have  you  answered  this  letter  ?  " 

"  No,  sir.  You  see,  it  did  n't  get  here  till  a  few 
hours  ago,  an'  we  had  agreed  not  to  make  up  our 
minds  before  to-morrow  mornin'." 

"  Don't  you  think  it  would  be  a  good  idea  to  find 
out  who  Mr.  Andrew  Foster  is,  and  whether  he  's 
likely  to  give  the  boy  a  good  home  ? " 

"  It  would,  for  a  fact,  sir;  but  how  might  that  be 
done  ?  We  are  not  allowed  to  leave  the  station  for 
a  longer  time  than  twenty-four  hours,  and  then 
only  one  of  the  crew  can  have  a  furlough." 

'  There  are  many  easier  methods  of  learning  all 
the  public  may  know  concerning  a  man  than  to  send 
a  messenger  in  search  of  the  knowledge.  Suppose 
you  authorize  me  to  make  the  necessary  inquiries — 
it  won't  cost  you  anything, — and  in  the  course  of 


310  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

perhaps  a  week  I  shall  be  able  to  tell  you  as  much 
regarding  Benny's  uncle  as  his  neighbors  can.  I 
suppose,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  that  by  applying  to 
the  courts  he  may  have  himself  appointed  guardian 
for  the  lad  and  take  him  away ;  but  I  question 
whether  an  uncle  who  was  n't  spoken  of  in  terms  of 
affection  by  the  boy's  father  and  mother  would  take 
such  trouble." 

"  It  's  no  use  talkin',  we  ain't  fit  to  settle  any 
kind  of  a  discussion,"  Sam  Hardy  exclaimed  em- 
phatically. '  Here  we  've  been  moonin'  'round 
tryin'  to  make  up  our  minds  whether  Benny  should 
go  or  not,  an*  never  once  thinkin*  of  what  would 
have  come  into  another  man's  mind  at  the  jump. 
Of  course  we  want  to  know  who  Andrew  Foster  is, 
an.d  what  he  's  likely  to  do  for  Benny  ?  Then  it  's 
only  a  question  of  sayin'  who  will  give  the  boy  the 
best  start  in  the  world." 

"  An'  you  '11  look  after  this  matter  for  us,  Mr. 
Bradford  ?  "  Tom  Downey  asked,  an  expression  of 
relief  coming  over  his  face. 

"  Certainly  I  will,  and  be  glad  of  the  opportunity 
of  doing  a  favor  for  No.  8.  Cheer  up,  my  lad,"  he 
added  turning  toward  Benny  who,  as  the  conversa- 
tion progressed,  had  been  gradually  drawing  nearer 
the  friendly  visitor.  '  You  're  a  long  ways  from 
leaving  this  crew  yet,  and  I  '11  be  surprised  if  the 
matter  comes  out  differently  from  what  you  wish. 


A    CONSULTATION.  3!  I 

With  all  hands  of  us  to  consider  which  may  be  the 
best  move,  there  should  n't  remain  any  chance  for 
mistake.  Choke  back  those  sobs;  go  up  and  put 
your  uniform  on,  and  let  me  see  how  you  and  Fluff 
C.  Foster  look  on  parade." 

It  was  really  astonishing  what  a  change  Mr.  Brad- 
ford had  wrought  by  a  few  commonplace  words. 

The  expression  of  gloom  disappeared  from  all  the 
faces,  and  the  men  whose  time  for  going  on  patrol 
had  arrived  set  about  making  ready  for  the  duty 
with  the  greatest  alacrity. 

Benny  ran  up-stairs,  eager  to  do  as  this  kindly 
friend  suggested,  and  in  an  instant,  as  it  were, 
something  very  like  joy  reigned  where  lately  all  had 
been  mourning. 

No.  8  displayed  himself  in  all  his  finery;  Fluff 
performed  his  tricks  in  the  most  approved  fashion ; 
the  keeper  and  the  surfmen  told  stories  which  were 
not  all  concerning  wrecks  and  loss  of  life;  the  cook 
made  a  lobster  salad  as  his  portion  of  the  merry- 
making, and  the  evening  which  had  bade  fair  to  be 
such  a  gloomy  one,  was,  as  all  declared,  the  most 
enjoyable  that  had  been  spent  in  the  station  for 
many  a  month. 

Then,  promising  to  report  by  telephone  whenever 
he  should  have  gained  any  information,  the  visitor 
took  his  departure,  and  it  was  time  for  Sam  Hardy 
and  No.  8  to  do  their  share  of  patrol  work. 


312  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

"  Come,  lad,"  the  surfman  said  cheerily.  "  I 
had  counted  on  your  stayin'  under  cover  to-night; 
but  seem'  's  how  you  're  likely  to  hold  on  here,  for 
I  believe  Mr.  Bradford  will  fix  things  accordin'  to 
ourlikin',  you  may  just  as  well  continue  to  toughen 
up." 

Then  the  two  went  out  into  the  night,  and  it 
would  be  difficult  to  say  which  carried  the  lighter 
heart  in  his  bosom. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE   DECISION. 

Although  Mr.  Bradford's  advice  and  willingness 
to  take  charge  of  Benny's  business  had  given  great 
relief  of  mind  to  all  concerned,  the  fears  of  the  crew 
concerning  the  future  were  by  no  means  dispelled. 

When  the  gentleman  had  stated  so  positively  that 
several  weeks  must  necessarily  elapse  before  the 
question  could  properly  be  settled,  even  Benny  felt 
as  if  a  great  load  of  care  had  suddenly  been  re- 
moved ;  but  on  the  following  morning,  after  the 
men  had  had  time  to  view  the  matter  from  every 
point,  there  appeared  much  in  it  which  was  not 
pleasing. 

"It  's  just  like  this,"  Sam  Hardy  said  to  Joe 
Gushing  when  the  two  met  behind  the  engine-house 
for  a  private  conversation  on  the  morning  following 
Mr.  Bradford's  visit.  "  It  's  just  like  this:  If  An- 
drew Foster  turns  out  to  be  some  crusty  old  cur- 
mudgeon who  's  bound  to  have  his  own  way,  he  '11 
insist  on  Benny  's  goin'  to  him  the  very  minute  he 

313 


314  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

finds  out  we  want  to  keep  the  lad,  therefore  it  stands 
us  in  hand  to  keep  mighty  quiet  as  to  our  wishes." 

'  Well,  supposin'  he  does  claim  the  lad  ?  "  Joe 
Gushing  replied  hotly.  "  I  've  thought  this  thing 
over  a  good  bit  since  Mr.  Bradford  left,  an'  have 
made  up  my  mind  that,  so  far  as  I  'm  concerned, 
No.  8  is  at  liberty  to  stay  with  us  if  he  says  the 
word.  What  's  the  reason  he  won't  make  as  much 
of  a  ma'n  while  stoppin'  here  as  if  he  was  in  York 
State  ?  I  go  in  for  tellin'  Andrew  Foster  that 
we  have  n't  got  the  time  to  run  around  huntin'  up 
his  relations;  but  we  count  on  keepin*  the  boy  who 
was  given  to  us  by  the  sea." 

'  The  rest  of  the  crew  would  n't  agree  to  any- 
thing quite  so  strong  as  that,"  Hardy  suggested 
thoughtfully. 

'  What  's  the  reason  they  would  n't  ?  Dick 
Sawyer,  Henry  Robbins,  and  Henderson  said  not 
half  an  hour  ago  that  they  'd  back  me  in  holdin'  on 
to  the  lad,  never  mind  how  many  uncles  flashed 
up." 

'  What  about  Downey  ?  " 

'  He  wants  to  keep  Benny  with  us,  an'  would 
come  out  strong  except  that  he  's  afraid  it  will  work 
the  boy  some  harm  in  the  future." 

'  Was  that  why  you  wanted  me  to  come  out 
here?  " 

'  Yes;  I  counted  that  you  'd  agree  with  us,  an' 


THE  DECISION.  315 

we  might  settle  the  question  without  waitin'  for 
what  Mr.  Bradford  may  pick  up  in  the  way  of 
information." 

"  I  reckon  it  '11  be  wiser  to  wait,  Joe.  There  's 
plenty  of  time  to  take  a  bold  stand  after  we  know 
whether  Andrew  Foster  really  wants  the  boy,  or  if 
he  's  sayin'  so  simply  because  he  thinks  folks  will 
make  queer  talk  if  he  don't." 

Joe  Gushing  was  by  no  means  satisfied  to  follow 
this  advice;  but  he  could  not  persuade  Sam  Hardy 
to  do  as  he  had  proposed,  and  the  interview  came 
to  an  end. 

During  the  week  which  ensued  the  members  of 
the  crew  talked  often,  one  with  another  but  not  in  a 
body,  regarding  what  should  be  done  in  case  Benny's 
uncle  demanded  that  the  boy  come  to  him,  and  the 
general  opinion  appeared  to  be  that  the  decision 
ought  by  right  to  be  left  to  No.  8  himself. 

As  a  matter  of  course  no  one  suggested  such  an 
idea  to  Benny.  He  was  given  to  understand  that 
everything  depended  upon  the  information  pro- 
cured by  Mr.  Bradford,  and  a  most  anxious  time  it 
was  to  him. 

More  than  once  he  referred  to  the  matter  when 
alone  with  Sam  Hardy,  but  the  surfman  refused  to 
discuss  it,  and  only  to  Fluff  could  he  pour  out  all 
that  was  in  his  heart.  That  he  would  run  away 
rather  than  go  to  this  uncle,  who  had  written  con- 


316  7WE  LIFE   SAVERS, 

earning  him  as  if  he  Avas  no  more  than  a  bale  of 
merchandise,  he  told  Fluff  again  and  again,  and  in 
order  to  be  prepared  for  such  a  move,  Benny  ques- 
tioned the  cook  concerning  the  surrounding  country, 
until  the  latter  believed  it  his  duty  to  inform  the 
keeper. 

The  lad  is  makin'  ready  to  give  us  the  slip  if  it 
turns  out  that  the  crew  believe  he  should  leave," 
the  "  captain  of  the  kitchen  "  said  to  Tom  Downey. 
"  From  what  I  've  seen  of  him  there  's  no  doubt  in 
my  mind  but  that  he  '11  do  it  rather  than  go  to  this 
uncle  of  whom  he  never  heard  before." 

Because  of  the  fear  that  Benny  might  be  tempted 
to  do  something  desperate  in  case  the  information 
Mr.  Bradford  received  was  of  such  a  nature  as  war- 
ranted a  careful  consideration  of  Andrew  Foster's 
claim,  it  was  decided  that  the  lad  be  kept  in  ignor- 
ance regarding  what  the  gentleman  might  succeed 
in  learning  until  the  crew  could  weigh  the  matter 
well  in  joint  discussion. 

It  so  chanced,  however,  that  Benny  himself  was 
the  first  to  hear  from  Mr.  Bradford,  and  the  crew 
were  thwarted  in  their  good  intentions  by  that  piece 
of  mechanism  known  as  the  telephone. 

The  boy  was  alone  in  the  station  on  the  fifth  day 
after  Andrew  Foster's  letter  was  received,  and, 
hearing  the  bell  ring,  answered  the  call. 

"  Hello!"   he   cried,    replying  as  he  had   often 


THE  DECISION.  317 

heard  Mr.  Downey,  and  then,  placing  the  receiver 
to  his  ear,  he  awaited  the  message. 

"  Is  this  the  Life-Saving  Station  ?  " 
'  Yes,  sir." 

"  Who  's  at  the  'phone  ?  " 

"  It  's  me — Benny  Foster." 

Hello,  Benny,  how  is  young  Foster  ?  It  is 
Bradford  who  is  speaking." 

Fluffy  is  very  well,  thank  you.  All  the  crew, 
and  even  the  cook,  are  outside,  sir.  Shall  I  call 
any  one  ? " 

Perhaps  it  will  be  as  well  if  I  speak  with  you 
first,  and  then  we  '11  have  a  word  with  the  keeper. 
Heard  anything  from  your  uncle  ?  " 

"  No,  sir,  and  I  hope  I  sha'n't.  Say,  Mr.  Brad- 
ford, would  you  go  to  him  if  you  were  in  my  place 
and  had  such  a  good  home  as  this,  where  Fluffy  can 
do  almost  whatever  he  wants  to  ?  You  know  some 
folks  think  a  dog  ain't  nice  to  come  into  the  house, 
and  I  don't  know  what  the  poor  little  man  would 
do  if  he  was  sent  into  the  shed  or  a  barn  to  sleep." 

"  So  you  're  having  it  very  comfortable  out  there, 
eh?" 

"  Indeed  we  are,  Mr.  Bradford.  Maje  has  got 
through  bothering  Fluff,  and  the  men  are  as  kind  to 
me  as  if  we  was  own  folks.  I  'd  feel  awful  bad  to 
go  away;  but  that  's  what  I  '11  have  to  do  if  An- 
drew Foster  says  I  must  live  with  him." 


3l8  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

44  Ain't  thinking  of  running  off  are  you,  Benny  ?  " 

'  That  's  just  what  Fluff  and  I  have  made  up  our 

minds  to  do,  sir,  though  I  would  n't  like  for  you  to 

tell  Mr.  Downey.     We  '11  never  go  off  with  folks  we 

don't  know." 

4  Your  uncle  might  give  you  a  much  better  home 
than  you  have  now,  Benny." 

"  He  could  n't  do  it,  sir.  No  one  would  ever  be 
as  good  to  me  as  are  the  members  of  this  crew,  and, 
what  's  better  than  all  the  rest,  I  can  earn  my  own 
way  here — everybody  says  I  do." 

4  Then  you  've  quite  made  up  your  mind  not  to 
leave  the  station  ?  " 

44  Oh,  sir;  I  '11  have  to  leave  if  the  men  de- 
cide that  I  must,  but  neither  Fluff  nor  I  will  go  to 
Andrew  Foster." 

4  Then  where  do  you  count  on  going  ?  " 

"  That 's  what  we  don't  know,  sir.  I  was  coming 
in  first  to  ask  you  where  we  might  find  a  place  to 
work  for  enough  to  pay  our  way." 

44  Would  you  like  to  hear  what  your  uncle  has  to 
say  regarding  the  matter  ?  " 

"  It  won't  make  any  difference  to  us,  sir;  we 
won't  go  to  him." 

44  What  I  mean  is,  would  you  like  to  hear  the  let- 
ter read  which  I  have  just  received  from  him  ?  " 

"  Does  he  say  I  've  got  to  go  where  he  lives  ?  " 

44  Listen   while  I  read,   bearing  in  mind  that  I 


THE  DECISION.  319 

wrote  the  day  after  leaving  the  station,  explaining 
how  you  were  situated,  and  asking  if  he  believed  it 
was  best  to  take  you  from  those  who  were  willing 
to  assume  all  charge.  The  letter  has  just  been  re- 
ceived, and  you  shall  hear  it :  '  I  am  in  receipt  of 
your  favor  of  the  4th,  and  it  pleases  me  to  learn 
that  my  nephew,  for  I  have  no  doubt  as  to  his  being 
my  brother's  son,  has  found  such  good  friends.  I 
am  not  really  in  a  position  to  give  a  young  boy  that 
care  which  he  should  have,  and  would  never  have 
written  asking  that  he  be  sent  on,  but  that  I  deemed 
it  my  duty.  I  am  an  old  man,  living  alone  with 
servants,  and  of  such  a  disposition  that  even  my 
only  brother  could  not  agree  with  me.  If  the  boy 
is  comfortable  and  happy,  and  I  can  be  assured  the 
life  savers  will  give  him  proper  care,  he  shall  receive 
from  me  the  sum  of  two  hundred  dollars  each  year 
in  quarterly  payments,  dependent  only  upon  his 
writing  me  a  truthful  account  of  his  situation  at 
least  once  every  twelve  months,  but  not  oftener. 
In  case  you  are  willing  to  burden  yourself  with  the 
transaction  of  the  business,  I  shall  be  glad  to  leave 
everything  in  your  hands,  agreeing  to  do  in  the 
premises  whatever  you  may  believe  to  be  right, 
providing  I  am  not  called  upon  for  more  than  I 
have  stated  herein.'  That  is  the  letter,  Benny, 
exactly  as  he  wrote  it,  and  I  have  read  every  word." 
No.  8  stood  with  the  receiver  pressed  tightly  to 


320  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

his  ear,  a  look  of  perplexity  on  his  face,  and  after  a 
long  pause  asked  hesitatingly: 

14  Did  n't  he  say  anything  more,  sir  ?  " 

"  I  can't  see  but  that  he  has  covered  the  subject 
fully,  my  boy." 

"  But  does  he  still  think  I  must  go  where  he 
lives  ?  " 

Benny  could  hear  Mr.  Bradford  laughing,  and  he 
wondered  why  the  gentleman  should  have  thought 
there  was  anything  comical  in  a  question  so  import- 
ant to  him. 

"  Are  any  of  the  crew  within  call  ?  "  Mr.  Bradford 
asked  at  length. 

"  I  think  Mr.  Hardy  is  in  the  oil-room,  sir." 

"  Tell  him  I  am  at  the  'phone." 

Sam  was  coming  toward  the  station  when  Benny 
opened  the  door,  and  on  being  told  who  desired  to 
speak  with  him,  he  hurried  forward,  an  expression 
of  anxiety  appearing  on  his  face. 

There  was  a  decided  change  in  his  countenance 
five  minutes  later,  and  then  he  dropped  the  receiver 
very  suddenly  to  grasp  Benny's  hands. 

"  It  's  all  right,  No.  8!  The  whole  matter  is 
settled  in  great  shape,  an'  I  'm  beginnin'  to  think 
Andrew  Foster  is  a  decent  sort  of  an  old  fogy  after 
all." 

"  Am  I  to  stay  here  ?"  Benny  cried,  trembling 
violently  because  of  the  prolonged  suspense. 


THE  DECISION.  $21 

"  That  's  exactly  what  you  are  to  do,  my  boy, 
and  your  uncle  will  pay  two  hundred  dollars  a  year 
towards  puttin'  you  through  school  in  proper 
shape." 

"  I  don't  want  him  to  pay  us  anything  so  long  as 
we  can  stay  here,"  Benny  replied  quickly,  tears  of 
joy  and  relief  welling  up  in  his  eyes. 

"  But  it  's  right  he  should  do  it,  No.  8,  an'  it 
shows  that  he  's  got  a  decent  heart,  even  though  it 
may  be  moss-grown.  Now  you  are  one  of  us,  an' 
it  '11  be  strange  if  seven  able-bodied  men  can't  pro- 
vide one  little  lad  with  food,  lodgin',  an'  schoolin', 
particularly  since  he  earns  a  good  deal  more  'n  he 
costs." 

Then  Sam  ran  to  the  door,  shouting  for  the  mem- 
bers of  the  crew  at  the  full  strength  of  his  lungs, 
and  in  a  few  moments  all  were  gathered,  waiting  to 
learn  the  reason  for  the  sudden  summons. 

It  was  a  difficult  matter  for  the  surfman  to  tell 
the  story  intelligibly;  but  after  a  time  he  succeeded 
in  making  his  comrades  understand  that  there  was 
no  longer  any  cause  to  fear  that  No.  8  might  be 
taken  from  them,  and  then  ensued  such  a  merry- 
making as,  perhaps,  no  life-saving  station  has  ever 
witnessed. 

The  men  congratulated  each  other,  then  Benny, 
and,  finally,  Fluff,  who  had  been  sitting  up  begging 
for  information — or  sugar;  and  when  this  had  been 


322  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

done,  went  through  the  same  ceremony  again  and 
again,  until  Tom  Downey  declared  that  such  "  crazy 
antics  must  come  to  an  end,"  lest  some  visitor 
should  suddenly  appear  and  think  the  crew  had 
gone  mad. 

Nor  were  they  wholly  quieted  down  when  Mr. 
Bradford  arrived  early  in  the  evening,  and  then  the 
reading  of  Andrew  Foster's  letter  aroused  them  to 
yet  more  noisy  hilarity. 

Amid  all  the  confusion  Benny  was  strangely  quiet. 
He  held  Fluff  pressed  tightly  in  his  arms,  and  gazed 
first  at  one  and  then  the  other  in  such  a  serious 
fashion  that  Mr.  Bradford  finally  asked: 

'  What  is  it,  Benny  ?  You  don't  seem  to  be  as 
happy  as  I  had  expected  ?  " 

"  Happy,  Mr.  Bradford  !  Fluffy  and  I  are  so 
happy  that  we  don't  dare  to  make  much  noise  for 
fear  we  '11  wake  up  and  find  it  's  all  been  a  dream. 
No  dog  and  boy  in  this  world  ever  had  it  so  nice  as 
Fluffy  an'  I,  and  it  makes  us  almost  frightened  for 
fear  we  shan't  do  enough  to  keep  the  crew  glad  all 
the  time  'cause  we  're  here." 

'  We  're  not  afraid  that  you  won't  do  enough, 
No.  8,"  Tom  Downey  said  gravely.  '  The  greatest 
trouble  is  that  you  may  try  to  do  too  much.  We 
are  the  ones  who  should  fear  lest  we  fail  in  giving 
you  all  the  chances  other  boys  enjoy.  We  count 
on  seein'  that  you  have  a  good  education,  and  then 


THE  DECISION.  323 

if  it  so  happens  that  you  believe  the  life-saving  ser- 
vice is  good  enough  for  you,  we  '11  be  satisfied;  but 
we  're  countin'  on  your  makin'  such  a  mark  in  the 
world  as  will  puff  us  all  up  with  pride." 

Benny  made  no  attempt  to  reply;  he  did  not  dare 
trust  his  voice,  and  at  such  a  time  tears  would  have 
shamed  him;  but  he  put  Fluff  on  the  floor,  ordering 
him  to  "  stand  up,"  and  the  two  remained  erect  for 
several  seconds,  silently  giving  thanks  for  the  great 
kindness  and  loving  tenderness  displayed  toward 
these  homeless  ones. 

It  would  be  a  pleasing  task  to  depict  Benny  as  he 
advances  through  life,  winning  the  praise  and  ad- 
miration of  those  around  him  for  the  sterling  quali- 
ties displayed ;  but  as  yet  he  has  not  made  very 
much  progress  in  carving  for  himself  a  name. 

He  is  now  at  school,  and  Fluff  remains  at  the 
station,  happy  all  the  time,  but  particularly  so  from 
Friday  night  until  Monday  morning,  when  his 
young  master  "  comes  home  "  to  the  station. 

No.  8's  teachers  report  that  he  is  a  studious,  well- 
behaved  boy,  and  both  Sam  Hardy  and  Joe  Gushing 
declare  whenever  the  subject  is  brought  up,  that  if 
he  so  desires,  Benny  shall  "  get  all  the  schoolin' 
that  's  to  be  had  for  money." 

Yes,  he  received  the  medal  of  honor  for  life-saving, 
when  his  successful  work  on  the  night  the  crew  were 


324  THE   LIFE   SAVERS. 

taken  from  the  stranded  steamer  had  been  properly 
represented  at  headquarters,  and  every  Sunday  he 
and  Fluff  wear  their  decorations,  much  to  the  satis- 
faction of  their  guardians,  the  men  of  the  Life-Saving 
Service. 


SELF-RKHTING  LIFE-BOAT. 


325 


Boat  and  Gear. 


DECK-PLAN  OF  A  SELF-RIGHTING 
LIFE-BOAT,  SHOWING  THE 
MANNER  IN  WHICH  THE 
GEAR  IS  STOWED. 

List  of  Articles  Shown. 


15- 

16. 

17. 

18. 
19. 
20. 
21. 
22. 


Anchor. 
Cable. 


Bow  heaving-line  or  grapnel- 


rope  and  grapnel.  . 
Drogue-rope. 
Stern  heaving-line. 

I  Veering  lines. 

Jib  outhaul  or  tack. 
Mizzen-sheets. 
Drogue. 
Life-buoy. 

Loaded  cane,  heaving-line, 
and  tub. 

Tailed  block. 
Pump-well  hatch. 

>  Deck  ventilating  hatches. 

Foot-boards  for  rowers. 
Side  air-cases. 
Relieving  tubes  and  valves. 
Samson's  post. 
Thwarts. 

Central  batten,  to  which  the 
masts  and  boat-hooks  are 
lashed. 


326  THE  LIFE   SAVERS. 

GENERAL   RULES   OBSERVED   IN   STOWING  THE 
ABOVE   GEAR. 

1.  Every  rope  made  securely  fast  to  a  thwart  by 
one  end,  the  other  end  being  kept  clear  for  imme- 
diate use. 

2.  Each  rope  coiled,  as  much  as  possible,  under  a 
seat. 

3.  Each  rope  coiled  in  a  loose  coil,  so  as  to  allow 
the  air  to  have  access  to  all  parts  of  it. 

REGULATIONS. 

1.  The  keepers  of  life-boat  stations  will  be  held 
responsible  to  the  Government  for  the  proper  care 
and  order,  cleanliness,  and  efficiency  of  the  life-boat, 
and  everything  pertaining  to  her. 

2.  The  keeper  of  each  life-boat  station  will  fre- 
quently open  the  doors  and  windows  of  the  boat- 
house;  keep  the  pump-well  hatch  and  ventilating- 
hatches  of  the  boat  open  when  the  boat  is  not  in 
use;  and  often  examine  such  of  her  gear  as  would 
suffer  injury  from  dampness,  and  dry  it  by  exposure 
to  the  sun  or  wind.      He  will  exercise  proper  pre- 
cautions against  the  warping  of  the  oars  by  their 
remaining  long  in  one  position,  and  see  that  they 
are  not  left  supported  only  at  the  ends. 

3.  The  keeper  will  keep  all  the  boat's  gear  as  far 
as  possible  in  the  boat,  except  the  lantern  (which 
has   first   to  be  trimmed   and   is  only  wanted   for 


SELF-RIGHTING  LIFE-BOAT.  $2? 

night  service)  and  the  life-belts,  so  that  no  delay 
may  take  place  in  handing  gear  into  the  boat  when 
going  on  service,  and  no  risk  be  run  of  leaving  any- 
thing behind. 

4.  The  ropes  and  other  gear  of  the  life-boat  must 
on  no  account  be  used  for  private   purposes,   nor, 
where  avoidable,  for  any  other  purpose  than  that 
for  which  they  are  provided. 

5.  Whenever  any  small   articles   are   injured   or 
destroyed,    they    should    be   instantly    repaired    or 
replaced,   and    the   Superintendent  of  the    district 
informed  accordingly;  and  when  any  ropes  or  other 
articles  of  importance  are  worn-out  or  destroyed, 
the  fact  should  be   made   known    at  once  to  the 
Superintendent. 

6.  Whenever  the  life-belts  have  been  wet  through 
with  salt  water,  they  should  be  dipped  and  washed 
in  fresh  water  if  practicable,  and  perfectly  dried  as 
soon   as  possible,  their  durability,  without   repair, 
much  depending  upon  this  being  done. 

7.  Where   there   is  a  carriage  to  the  boat,   the 
wheels  should  be  taken  off  at  least  twice  a  year  and 
the  axle-arms  greased    and  the  roller-skids  should 
be  kept  in  good   order  by  oiling  their  axle-bolts 
occasionally. 

8.  The  life-boat  will  be  manned  by  the  keeper,  a  bow- 
man, and  as  many  boatmen  as  the  boat  pulls  oars,  and 
the  keeper  will  have  charge  of  the  boat  as  coxswain. 


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LOS  ANGELES,  CALIFORNIA  90095-1388 

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